Foreign investment in catering services is prohibited. For the purposes of the OECD FDIRRI, the restriction is assumed to affect restaurants and cafés outside hotels too (tourism and cultiral activities not contemplated).
"Article 5 Prohibitions
Foreigners and entities subject to this regulation are prohibited from practicing the activities mentioned in this article. These activities are limited to national persons only per the following terms:
1. Wholesale and retail trade.
2. Import and export business.
3. Catering services.
4. The work of commercial agencies of all kinds and fields.
5. Inspection activity on all imported and exported merchandise
6. Accounting, auditing, financial advisory, legal advisory, and lawyers' business only with the permission of the Bar Association and in accordance with special legislation.
7. The act of bringing in foreign labor and the act of recruitment.
8. Security work.
9. Non-profit business.
10. Ground [road] transportation.
11. Any field restricted to Libyan persons in accordance with the legislation in force or by a decision from the Minister.
[...]
Article 18 Property Distribution
Foreigners' contribution to the joint venture for its duration may not exceed 75% seventy-five per cent. However, this ownership may extend to 89% eighty-nine percent by a decision from the Minister after providing the reasons in the application submitted to the Minister.[...]" (Decree No. 944 on the Foreigners' Participation and Foreign Companies' Branches and Representative Offices in Libya, 13 October 2022  [Translation provided by Libya's Ministry of Economy])
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"Article 1
In implementation of the provisions of the legislation regulating commercial activity prohibiting non-Libyans from practicing all retail or wholesale commercial activities, municipal guard offices, labor inspection offices, and all regulatory authorities are responsible for taking legal measures regarding any violations that are caught, especially foreigners practicing the following activities:
1. Buying and selling transactions, whether directly or on behalf of others.
2. Rent bakeries and shops for themselves.
3. Carrying out real estate brokerage work.[...]" (Resolution No. 508 of 2022 AD regarding the report on provisions for commercial activity [google translation])
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"Section One - Joint-Venture Companies [...]
Article 6
It is prohibited to establish joint-venture companies for carrying out the hereunder activities, whereas such activities shall be confined to Libyans only in exclusion to any others:
1. Retail and wholesale trade
2. Importation
3. Catering services
4. All types and fields of commercial agencies
5. Road transport services
6. Inspection activity of all imported and exported commodities and goods
7. Activity of handling, loading and unloading in sea ports
8. Accountancy and auditing duties as well as financial, legal and economical consultancies
9. Crushing of stones (Crushers)
10. To bring ordinary and trained laborers as well as medium and high cadres according the conditions and controls which are set by ministry of labour and habitation
11. Contracting and civil works including activity of building and construction in respect of contracts less than 30 million dinars
12. Any other fields which are restricted to Libyans according the effective regulations [...]" (Decision of the Minister of Economy No. 207 of the year 2012 in respect of foreigners participation in foreign companies, branches and representative offices of foreign companies in Libya, as amended)
Decree No. 944 on the Foreigners' Participation and Foreign Companies' Branches and Representative Offices in Libya, 13 October 2022
Resolution No. 508 of 2022 AD regarding the report on provisions for commercial activity [google translation]
Decision of the Minister of Economy No. 207 of the year 2012 in respect of foreigners participation in foreign companies, branches and representative offices of foreign companies in Libya, as amended
[<a href="https://euroly.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Decree-No.-944-on-the-Foreigners-Participation-and-Foreign-Companies-Branches-and-Representative-Offices-in-Libya.pdf">Decree</a>],[<a href="https://lawsociety.ly/legislation/%d9%82%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%b1-%d8%b1%d9%82%d9%85-508-%d9%84%d8%b3%d9%86%d8%a9-2022-%d9%85-%d8%a8%d8%b4%d8%a3%d9%86-%d8%aa%d9%82%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%b1-%d8%a3%d8%ad%d9%83%d8%a7%d9%85-%d8%a8%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%86/">Resolution</a>],[<a href="https://www.chambre-de-commerce-franco-libyenne.org/uploads/D%C3%A9cision%20207%20(traduction%20anglaise).pdf">Decision</a>],[<a href="https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=20374709-5734-4d8e-a159-90af5a3394b2">Other</a>],[<a href="https://itkan.ly/the-provisions-of-law-no-9-of-2010-on-promoting-investment/#:~:text=9%20of%202010%20is%20a,stretched%20beyond%20what%20it%20bears.">Other</a>],[<a href="https://libyaherald.com/2023/02/recent-legal-opinion-on-foreign-investment-in-libya-does-not-impose-blanket-ban-in-oil-sector-tumi-law-firm/">Other</a>]