Interest for Maltese Companies’ in Libya

Around 20 Maltese companies from the building and
construction sector have been assisted by Malta Enterprise to participate in
the Libya Build 2012, where they had the opportunity to showcase their products
and services, establish relations with their Libyan counterparts and explore
business prospects within post-revolution Libya.

The companies – which operate in a wide range of sectors,
such as lifts and electromechanical systems, construction materials, furniture
and fittings, environmental solutions, turnkey contractors and project
management, paints, printing, aluminium, as well as garages, doors and windows
– reported good interest in their offering.

Indeed, they were kept busy throughout the entire event held
at the Tripoli International Fairground over a span of five days between May
20th and 24th, 2012 and shall now be following up on the business leads they
established.

Likewise, the Malta Enterprise representative at the
Commercial Office in Tripoli, who was also present at the event, had several
meetings to promote the trade opportunities that Malta offers to Libyan
companies as well as the assistance and support that companies operating in
Malta may benefit from.

After presiding over the opening ceremony, the Libyan
Minister of Economy Dr Ahmed Al-Koushli made it a point to visit the Malta
Pavilion, where he not only visited the Maltese companies but also had a short
meeting with Malta's Ambassador in Libya Victor Camilleri and the Malta
Enterprise representative in Libya Salem Megadmi.

Malta Enterprise also organized an information session for
Maltese companies with the Organization for Development of Administrative Centers
(ODAC), which executes a wide range of public projects particularly the
strategic and major infrastructural projects, as well as a networking session
for Maltese and Austrian businesses in collaboration with the Austrian Embassy
in Libya.

With infrastructure projects being among the Libya's
priorities after months of unrest, Libya Build provided the ideal setting for
those enterprises looking at opportunities within a market that is seeking to
establish itself as one of the most advanced in the region.

The event also featured expertise and technology across a
broad range of sectors from the international community, particularly from
countries in the Euro-Med region which had the strongest presence among the
almost 650 participating companies.

Malta Enterprise's own participation at the Libya Build 2012
and the support provided to local companies to participate in the event is part
of the initiatives being taken to strengthen the commercial links between the
two neighbouring countries, which also include participation in the Libyan
Healthcare Exhibition 2012 being held in the coming September.

The event is of strategic importance for companies engaged in
healthcare in view of the extensive support required by this sector in Libya.
It will provide a unique opportunity to establish direct communication with
Libyan decision-makers in the healthcare sector and to obtain information on
medical needs and planned projects in this field.

Malta Enterprise is currently registering local companies
interested in taking part in the event, which amongst others may include
private hospitals and clinics, pharmaceutical companies, suppliers of medical
equipment and products, as well as other medical related service providers.

These initiatives follow up on the visit by an official
delegation led by the Minister of Finance, Economy, and Investment and the
Minister for Fair Competition, Small Business and Consumers to Libya about a
month ago, when they held meetings with the Libyan Ministers for Industry, the
Economy and Transport.

On the sides of this visit, 20 Maltese companies operating in
the maritime industry formed a business delegation that visited the country to
explore business opportunities, view the operating environment at some of
Libya's major ports and meet their Libyan counterparts.

Following these meetings, the first meeting of the Technical
Committee for Trade and Investment was conducted with the aim of facilitating
trade and investment between the two countries, in line with the Memorandum of
Understanding signed between Malta Enterprise and the General Board of
Privatisation and Investment in Libya earlier this year.

Malta Enterprise and Transport Malta also organised two
separate seminars for Libyan officials involved in regulating these sectors
with the aim of providing training and assistance to these public bodies based
on Malta's expertise in these fields.