During the Eid holiday (23 March), the Hafter-controlled National Development Agency (NDA) announced that it had signed two contracts for the construction of what it referred to as two strategic projects in the city of Sirte. These are the Sirte International Equestrian Track and the new government complex.
The contracts were signed by Mahmoud Al-Farjani, Director General of the NDA with what it vaguely referred to as ‘‘leading international companies specializing in large-scale projects’’.
The NDA said the signing of these contracts comes within the framework of its efforts to support the reconstruction process and the development of infrastructure and vital facilities in Sirte, as part of its 2030 Vision.
The Sirte International Equestrian Track project
The NDA said the Sirte International Equestrian Track project includes the construction of a comprehensive sports and entertainment complex built to international standards for horse racing, on a large area suitable for hosting international championships and events. The project includes the main racetrack, spectator stands, VIP areas, stables, veterinary facilities, administrative and service buildings, and a dedicated area for traditional Libyan equestrian sports. It also includes open spaces and the necessary infrastructure for receiving visitors and organizing major Arab and international events.
The new government complex
The NDA reported that the new government complex project in Sirte aims to establish a comprehensive presidential administrative complex encompassing several governmental and sovereign facilities. These include the government palace, official work headquarters, and supporting administrative offices, along with associated squares, protocol facilities, and security and service infrastructure.
It added that this project is part of a ‘‘vision’’ to develop Sirte into a modern national administrative centre that enhances the efficiency of the Libyan government and provides a comprehensive institutional environment for managing state affairs.
Relocating the capital of Libya to Sirte?
This comes as part of a Qaddafi-era vision to relocate the capital of Libya away from its current seat in Tripoli to the more central and ‘‘politically neutral’’ city of Sirte. It will be recalled that hy his own admission, this vision failed miserably under Qaddafi, who eventually gave up on the ludicrous idea.
