Foreign investment in catering services is prohibited. For the purposes of the OECD FDIRRI, the restriction is assumed to affect restaurants and cafés outside hotels.
"Section One - Joint-Venture Companies [...]
Article 6
It is prohibited to establish joint-venture companies for carrying out the hereunder activities, whereas such activities shall be confined to Libyans only in exclusion to any others:
1. Retail and wholesale trade
2. Importation
3. Catering services
4. All types and fields of commercial agencies
5. Road transport services
6. Inspection activity of all imported and exported commodities and goods
7. Activity of handling, loading and unloading in sea ports
8. Accountancy and auditing duties as well as financial, legal and economical consultancies
9. Crushing of stones (Crushers)
10. To bring ordinary and trained laborers as well as medium and high cadres according the conditions and controls which are set by ministry of labour and habitation
11. Contracting and civil works including activity of building and construction in respect of contracts less than 30 million dinars
12. Any other fields which are restricted to Libyans according the effective regulations [...]" (Decision of the Minister of Economy No. 207 of the year 2012 in respect of foreigners participation in foreign companies, branches and representative offices of foreign companies in Libya)
Decision of the Minister of Economy No. 207 of the year 2012 in respect of foreigners participation in foreign companies, branches and representative offices of foreign companies in Libya
[<a href="https://www.chambre-de-commerce-franco-libyenne.org/uploads/D%C3%A9cision%20207%20(traduction%20anglaise).pdf">Decision</a>]