ALTAYB SAFFI MENAFI Secretary of NASCO INTERVIEW

loaf of bread in Libya is the cheapest in the world, and it is important to us that every citizen has access to it,” says Altayb Saffi Menafi, with pride.

Mr. Menafi is the Secretary for the National Supply Corporation, Nasco, which was established one year after the revolution, and given the task of ensuring that no Libyan goes hungry.

Basic food staples like bread, rice, oil, macaroni, sugar, and tea are heavily subsidized in Libya, which, because of its limited capacity for agriculture, imports around 75 percent of its food, including 80 percent of the wheat it consumes.

Nasco imports 50 kilos of wheat flour for about $18 and sells it to the bakers for approximately $1.50. “We spend more than LYD 800 million ($622 million) a year in subsidies that go strictly towards food provision,” says Mr. Menafi.

A state-run, non-profit organization, Nasco’s job is to facilitate the production, import, and subsidy of basic foodstuffs, and to ensure that all Libyans—regardless of income or status—have access to a plentiful, nutritious, and affordable supply. “Our mission is to help everyone stay healthy,” Mr. Menafi explains.

Nasco has warehouses all over Libya, and a distribution system that reaches even the most remote communities. “There is no problem when it comes to food availability, as we take care of distribution and cover any extra costs linked to transport.”

Libya is heavily dependent on imports to feed its people.

With food consumption rising in Libya as the size of the population increases, Nasco is a potentially lucrative trading partner for American companies involved in the production of grain flour, corn oil, and rice. Recently a new policy has been implemented, enabling it to deal with producers and manufacturers directly without going through agents and middlemen.

“We would welcome cooperation with American suppliers,” says Mr. Menafi. “We could potentially cooperate very well when it comes to grain and flour, corn oil, and some brands of rice and sugar. We like to deal directly with the producers and manufacturers.”

Nasco has already met with U.S. firms dealing with rice, according to Mr. Menafi. “We have not yet met with any that deal with cooking oil,” he says.

“American companies are all more than welcome to come here if they specialize in any of the products we need. We invite them all to join us. I am looking forward to the day when American companies establish a sizeable presence here.”