Changes in the industrial Geography of libya 1970-1980

الملخص

The paper deals with industrial structure and factors of location underlying the regional distribution pattern in Libya, as well as the industrial changes during the period 1971-1980, a subject that has hitherto not been given much attention in Libya.

Industry in Libya until the 1960's was limited in scope and production. There were traditional or cottage industries such as weaving, carpet making and rug weaving using hand looms, leatherwork, copperware, metal work, wood and mat making, which produced various articles for home consumption. Production was carried on chiefly in bazaars, where retailing also took place.Modern industry has only been introduced in recent years. During the Italian period (1911-1942) some small modern establishments controlled by Italians were introduced, but most of them were destroyed during the Second World War.

Libyan industry was still confined to producing light consumer goods for local demand and service trade such as repairing vehicles and appliances. Moreover, it can be inferred from statistics that industry was in 1969 still at a primitive stage even through its contribution to GDP was almost half of the output contributed by the agriculture sector.

This may be explained by the widespread backwardness of the Libyan economy prior to the discovery of the oil and the limitation of knowledge of modern technology, about 90 percent of the population being illiterate. Although more than 80 percent of the inhabitants depended basically for their livelihood on agriculture and animal husbandry which were beset with extraordinary difficulties such as the inadequacy and unpredictability of rainfall, tribal ownership and tenure of land.

Accordingly, the country had to depend largely on imported goods. During the period 1964-1970, the introduction of the manufacturing industry was somewhat greater than before but in general its growth was still limited. In this period the number of industrial workers increased by about 81 percent.