The Governor of the Central Bank of Libya meets with the Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings.

Bangkok, October 12, 2026 (LANA) – The Governor of the Central Bank of Libya, Naji Mohamed Issa, met on Monday with Kenji Okamura, Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings held in Bangkok, Thailand.

The meeting addressed the latest economic and financial developments in Libya and the challenges facing the national economy. It also reviewed the Central Bank of Libya’s efforts to maintain monetary and financial stability, enhance fiscal sustainability, balance the preservation of monetary reserves with the local currency exchange rate, and support the economic reform process in coordination with relevant institutions.

The two sides discussed prospects for strengthening cooperation and partnership with the IMF, as well as leveraging its expertise, technical assistance programs, and capacity-building initiatives. These efforts aim to support the Central Bank of Libya in developing the banking sector, modernizing payment systems, enhancing financial inclusion, and refining monetary policy tools and banking supervision amidst the ongoing institutional and financial division.

The Governor emphasized the importance of continued coordination and consultation with the IMF, supporting efforts to achieve economic and financial stability, boosting confidence in the Libyan economy, and creating favorable conditions for sustainable economic growth.

For his part, Mr. Okamura commended the exceptional efforts the Governor continues to make to implement economic reforms, despite the persistent challenges surrounding the Central Bank that hinder its efforts to ensure the success of reform plans. During the meeting, an agreement was reached to launch a package of training and technical support programs for Central Bank of Libya staff in the fourth quarter of this year. These include programs on monetary statistics compilation, balance of payments preparation and foreign reserve management, and the enhancement of financial stability. Additionally, a self-assessment regarding the implementation of the Central Bank Transparency and Independence (CBT) Code will commence this month—accompanied by intensive training for the relevant team—alongside a program on risk-based banking supervision. Furthermore, specialists will review key legislation, including the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Law and the updated Banking Law.

This meeting marks the beginning of a series of bilateral discussions between the Governor and senior officials from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, as well as central bank governors and representatives of international financial institutions. These meetings aim to address issues of mutual interest and strengthen international financial and banking cooperation.