

Currently released so far... 6239 / 251,287
Articles
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Amsterdam
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Browse by tag
ASEC
AU
AORC
AF
AM
AFIN
AEMR
AR
ASIG
AMGT
AG
APER
AL
ABLD
ASUP
AA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AE
AMED
AS
AGMT
APECO
AO
AFFAIRS
AJ
ACOA
AX
AROC
ATFN
ASEAN
AFGHANISTAN
ADCO
AFU
AER
ALOW
AODE
ABUD
ATRN
AID
AC
AVERY
APCS
CASC
CJAN
CVIS
CS
COUNTER
CD
CU
CI
CO
CG
CE
CA
CMGT
CH
CWC
CBW
CKGR
CR
CN
CPAS
CONS
CDG
CLINTON
CT
CJUS
CY
CV
COUNTERTERRORISM
CIA
CACM
CDB
CAN
COE
CM
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CACS
CF
CONDOLEEZZA
CARSON
CL
CIS
CODEL
CTM
CB
COM
ECON
EFIN
ETRD
EAIR
EAID
ET
EFIS
ENRG
EPET
ETTC
ER
EG
EINV
EAGR
ELAB
EUN
EWWT
ENGR
EMIN
ECIN
ENIV
ES
EC
ECPS
EIND
EI
EU
ENVI
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ELTN
EZ
EINT
ELN
EUR
EUNCH
EN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
ELECTIONS
EINVEFIN
ENNP
ECUN
EXTERNAL
EK
EFINECONCS
ECINECONCS
ECIP
EINDETRD
EUC
EREL
ENVR
ECA
ENERG
ENGY
ETRO
EFTA
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
ECONEFIN
EINVETC
EINN
ESA
ETC
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ESENV
ETRDECONWTOCS
IR
IZ
IWC
IC
ILC
IO
IAEA
IN
IS
IT
ICRC
INTELSAT
ILO
IBRD
IMF
ICAO
IMO
ITALY
ITALIAN
IRAQI
ITRA
ISRAELI
ICJ
IACI
INTERPOL
ID
IV
ICTY
IQ
IPR
INRB
ITPHUM
IIP
IL
IA
INR
ITPGOV
IZPREL
IRC
INRA
INRO
IRAJ
IEFIN
IF
KE
KCRM
KDRG
KIPR
KCOR
KSCA
KBIO
KDEM
KMCA
KMPI
KNNP
KJUS
KOMC
KGHG
KSUM
KSTC
KIRF
KTIP
KWMN
KZ
KG
KTFN
KHLS
KPAO
KFRD
KTIA
KOLY
KCFE
KISL
KFLU
KPKO
KWBG
KTBT
KTDB
KOCI
KUNR
KAWK
KICC
KPAL
KSTH
KN
KS
KGIC
KNPP
KWAC
KMDR
KAWC
KBCT
KIDE
KFLO
KWMNCS
KSEP
KU
KNEI
KVPR
KACT
KRAD
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCIP
KSAF
KV
KSPR
KPRP
KFSC
KCRS
KR
KRFD
KX
KO
KPWR
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
KFIN
KGCC
KPIN
KHIV
KPLS
KIRC
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KGIT
KBTS
KPRV
KBTR
KERG
KWMM
KRVC
KNSD
KVIR
KNUP
KTER
KDDG
KHSA
KMRS
KHDP
KTLA
KPAK
KNAR
KREL
KPAI
KTEX
KCOM
KNNPMNUC
KPOA
KLIG
KHUM
KDEV
KNUC
KCFC
KREC
KOMS
KWWMN
MASS
MP
MARR
MOPS
MNUC
MX
MO
MCAP
MY
ML
MU
MIL
MC
MTRE
MA
MD
MTCRE
MEPI
MAR
MRCRE
MR
MV
MPOS
MZ
MEPP
MOPPS
MAPP
MASC
MT
MERCOSUR
MK
MDC
MI
MAPS
MCC
MASSMNUC
MQADHAFI
MUCN
MTCR
MG
OVIP
OREP
OTRA
OSCE
OECD
OIIP
OEXC
OPCW
OPIC
OPDC
OPRC
ODIP
OVP
OSCI
OAS
OFDP
OTR
OSAC
OIC
OFFICIALS
OIE
PREL
PGOV
PHUM
PTER
PE
PINR
PINS
PARMS
PARM
PHSA
PA
PK
PBTS
PO
PREF
POL
PLN
POLITICS
PROP
PL
PM
PAO
PSI
PG
PEPR
POV
PALESTINIAN
PINT
PSOE
PU
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PBIO
PECON
PAK
POGOV
PINL
PKFK
PMIL
PY
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PRAM
PMAR
PGOVLO
PUNE
PORG
PHUMPREL
PF
POLINT
PHUS
PGOC
PNR
PGGV
PNAT
PGOVE
PRGOV
PRL
PROV
PTERE
PGOF
PHUMBA
PINF
PEL
SNAR
SO
SENV
SU
SCUL
SOCI
SP
SC
SA
SMIG
SAN
SZ
SW
SN
SY
SR
SL
SEVN
SF
SYR
SI
SG
STEINBERG
SIPRS
SH
SNARCS
SOFA
SANC
SHUM
SK
ST
TERRORISM
TRGY
TZ
TX
TBIO
TSPA
TS
TSPL
TW
TU
TD
TIP
TURKEY
TP
TI
TC
TPHY
TH
TO
TK
TNGD
TINT
TRSY
TR
TFIN
TT
UG
UK
UP
UNGA
UNHRC
UZ
UN
UNAUS
USTR
UNSC
US
UNEP
UY
UNESCO
USUN
UNHCR
UAE
UNMIK
USEU
UV
UNO
UNDP
UNCHS
UNVIE
UNCHC
UE
UNDESCO
USAID
UNDC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 10TRIPOLI166, HALF OF LIBYA'S HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE BUDGET STILL UP FOR GRABS TRIPOLI 00000166 001.2 OF 002
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #10TRIPOLI166.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
10TRIPOLI166 | 2010-02-23 16:04 | 2011-01-31 21:09 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Tripoli |
VZCZCXRO1053
OO RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDH RUEHFL RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV
RUEHSL RUEHSR
DE RUEHTRO #0166/01 0541610
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O R 231610Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5856
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0031
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 0010
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 6414
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TRIPOLI 000166
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/FO, NEA/MAG AND EEB/NEA; NSC FOR S. AGUIRRE; COMMERCE FOR ITA NATE MASON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/23/2020
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON ECIN EINV TNGD LY
SUBJECT: HALF OF LIBYA'S HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE BUDGET STILL UP FOR GRABS TRIPOLI 00000166 001.2 OF 002
CLASSIFIED BY: Joan A. Polaschik, Charge d'Affaires, U.S. Embassy Tripoli, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (b), (d)
1.(C) Summary: The Head of Libya's Housing and Infrastructure Board Mohamed Abujela al-Mabruk told the Ambassador on February 15 that approximately half of Libya's 2008 projected investment of 62 billion Libyan dinars (USD 47 billion) in construction projects had been awarded, primarily to foreign companies. He noted that the projected investment was expected to increase by nearly 10 billion Libyan dinars within the next few years. While China and Turkey had received the most contracts thus far, Mabruk highlighted that there was plenty of room left for U.S. companies to compete, potentially for even larger projects than had been awarded to date. He welcomed the February 20-23 U.S. Trade Mission and expressed an interest in closer bilateral trade engagement. End Summary.
DEVELOPMENT BUDGET LIKELY TO INCREASE
2.(C) During a February 15 meeting with the Ambassador, the Head of Libya's Housing and Infrastructure Board (HIB), Mohamed Abujela al-Mabruk, accompanied by Dr. Ibrahim Shukri, HIB's head of the Follow-up Department, explained that Libya's projected investment in infrastructure construction of 62 billion Libyan dinars (USD 47 billion) would probably increase to at least 70 billion LYD (USD 55 billion) over the next few years. The reason for the increase, according to Mabruk was the absence of "a lot of information" from the previous estimate. Whereas the General People's Committee (Ministry-equivalent) for Planning and Finance estimated in 2005 that 420,000 houses would need to be constructed over the next five years to accommodate Libya's growing population, rapid demographic changes -- including hundreds of additional expatriate families -- had led to a current estimate of 500,000 housing units. Although the estimated number of additional construction projects had increased, the investment budget has not yet increased, he explained. He estimated that nearly 25 billion LYD would still be contracted out over the next few years.
3.(C) According to Mabruk, the HIB builds to the government's order and does not contribute to determinations of construction figures or the allocation of the housing units. HIB has been charged with building 200,000 housing units throughout Libya and is the only authority in Libya appointed to upgrade existing and new public infrastructure. Over 25 percent of HIB's contracts (more than 10 billion Libyan dinars) have been awarded to Chinese companies, representing the bulk of HIB's contracts. "And they will get more," Mabruk predicted. Turkish firms are the second highest recipient of HIB contracts, worth 3 billion Libyan dinars). In addition to the HIB, Libya's Organization for the Development of Administrative Centers (ODAC) was also tasked with building housing units, as well as large public projects such as schools, universities, and hospitals. Both organizations fall under the authority of the General Board of Public Works, along with three city-specific development agencies, in Tripoli, Benghazi and Ghadames. Outside of this authority, only the Ministry of Transportation manages urban planning projects, specifically for airports, roads, bridges, railways, and ports. Mabruk remarked that the Ministry of Agriculture was also involved in limited, specific development projects.
U.S. COMPANIES WELCOME TO BID ON CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS
4.(SBU) The Ambassador highlighted the February 20-23 U.S. Trade Mission and inquired whether there was still room left in the infrastructure construction sector for U.S. companies. Mabruk explained that nearly half of Libya's construction investment budget, or approximately 34 billion Libyan dinars had been awarded in contracts so far. However, he believed that U.S. firms would be highly competitive for future bids, particularly in infrastructure construction projects for small cities, construction supervision, project management, engineering, water treatment and waste management, and architecture and design.
5.(SBU) Mabruk explained the process for U.S. firms to bid on HIB projects -- namely that a company must first contact the HIB with a letter of intent and begin negotiations with the agency. He noted that the HIB is willing to initiate negotiations with a company even before the company is legally registered in Libya. If a contract is awarded, the HIB will send the company a letter, which is required for a company to register itself. TRIPOLI 00000166 002.2 OF 002 Companies that enter into joint venture partnerships with Libyan firms will be given preference by the HIB, and if a foreign company partners with the Economic and Social Development Fund (ESDF), it can be awarded contracts without having to compete with other bids. (Note: Other agencies have informed us of the same preferential treatment to joint-venture firms. End note.) According to Mabruk, the Prime Minister-equivalent has recently moved to allow joint-ventures partnerships to be comprised of less than a 35-percent share for Libyan partners and a 65-percent share or greater for foreign partners. Prior to the change, a foreign partner could not own more than a 65-percent share in a joint-venture. He pointed to the example of a recent HIB contract that was signed on a public works project in the Green Mountains, by which the Libyan government allowed an Italian firm to take a 76-percent stake in the joint-venture project. If the Prime Minister-equivalent approved the contract, Mabruk remarked that it would be precedent for future joint-venture partnerships.
AECOM: A MODEL FOR U.S. BUSINESS IN LIBYA
6.(C) Mabruk explained that since 2008, HIB has been working with the American company AECOM as the direct program manager for every HIB contract. After a company approaches the HIB with interest in negotiating a contract, HIB refers the company to AECOM, which prequalifies bidders and refers them back to the HIB according to company size and specialization. After the HIB selects a company and signs a contract, AECOM is responsible for managing the work of that company. Mabruk noted that HIB's partnership with AECOM was the first and largest of its kind in Libya, whereby a foreign company is, for all intents and purposes, managing all of the HIB's work. xxxxxxxxxxxx He said that many infrastructure projects throughout the country were facing problems due to faulty contractors, but that AECOM was limited in the manner in which it could address such issues.
BIO AND COMMENT
7.(C) Mohamed Abujela al-Mabruk moved to Seattle in 1977 to study engineering. In 1978, he enrolled in the University of Southern California's Graduate School of Engineering, where he stayed until 1983. He earned a Master's Degree and Doctorate in Engineering from USC. In 1983, he moved back to Tripoli and become a professor at Al Fatah University School of Engineering, where he taught Saif al-Islam al-Qadhafi. He remained in that position until 1995, when he was named Chairman of the Industrial Steel Company of Misurata (1995-2005). During the second half of 2005, he was dual-hatted as head of the Authority of Infrastructure and Development, a precursor to the HIB. In 2006 he was named Deputy Head of the HIB, serving under then-chairman Abuzeid Dorda. From 2007-2009 he served as Minister of Transportation, and in 2009, he was appointed head of the HIB.
8.(C) Like other GOL interlocutors that we have met in advance of the Trade Mission, the HIB was extremely welcoming of U.S. investment in Libya and was very willing to coordinate meetings between the HIB and the twenty-five companies that will participate in the delegation. His assessment of current and future investment estimates shows that Libya will continue to be a land of opportunity well into the foreseeable future. POLASCHIK