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.