Currently, the majority of the country’s workforce is employed by the public sector. The private sector ‎remains weak providing for mostly underpaid employment. The numbers highlight an over-‎dependence on government jobs which has had a damaging effect on the country’s economic ‎situation. The additional reliance on oil production and hydrocarbon exports has motivated LEAD to ‎strategically work on the development of businesses away from the oil sector to aid the growth of a ‎globally competitive free market economy.‎ With the current GNC elected government stretched in dealing with the issues associated with a ‎country transitioning from dictatorship to democracy, LEAD believes that the initiatives for economic ‎development should stem from civil society organizations and think-tanks.‎ ‎

“We Libyans are truly an innovative people. Look at our young revolutionaries during the war. They ‎were amazing! They were creative, they improvised and they adapted real fast to the art of war. We at ‎LEAD Foundation believe in investing in our people first,” said Zeyad bin Ramadan co-founder of LEAD ‎Foundation and Advisor to the Minister of ICT. ‎ ‎“We have an amazing opportunity to build a bright future in Libya and our people are our greatest ‎treasure.” ‎ The foundation’s goal is to reduce the levels of unemployment, and elevate the standard of living for ‎all Libyan citizens. LEAD foundation plans to announce major initiatives that will lay the foundations ‎for a strong economic recovery.

Startups in Libya are going to finally get the support the need because ‎LEAD’s strategy centers on entrepreneurs. ‎ Currently, more than 60,000 of the young men who helped in the overthrow the brutal dictator ‎remain unemployed and armed. LEAD Foundation believes with a thriving economy that provides ‎good paying jobs, the need to carry arms will become obsolete. With the support of major industrial ‎partners and the government, LEAD Foundation initiatives will surely create a huge impact on Libya in ‎a positive step forward towards an economic freedom. ‎

(Source: Libya Herald)