Tripoli, 30 April:
A 65-man Danish business delegation arrived in Tripoli today, Monday, for a three-day visit during which they will meet . . .[restrict]with Libyan businessmen and officials. Organised by the Confederation of Danish Industry and the Danish Foreign Ministry, the delegation represents 26 major Danish companies such as FLSmidth, Nillfisk and Leo Pharma.
It focuses on four business sectors seen as extremely relevant to Libyan present redevelopment needs: energy and water, oil and gas; infrastructure, construction, security and defence; medical and health; and agriculture and food production. Companies Involved in construction and infrastructure are the single largest element of the delegation; there are nine companies represented, followed by seven from Denmark’s oil and gas industry.
While in Tripoli, the Danes will be given a briefing by Libyan businessman Husni Bey and make a series of site visits, including a local hospital, greenhouses producing flowers and an animal fodder production plant, to look into potential collaboration.
They will also meet with members of the Libyan Businessmen’s Council. Businessman from Benghazi, too, are flying in to the capital as well to meet with them.
Denmark — and not just Danish business — has become very focussed on Libya as a result of last year’s revolution supported by NATO, of which Denmark is a member. Denmark carried out 872 operations over Libya last year, making it second with the UK after France in air action. Given its size, though — Denmark has a population of 5.4 million compared to the France’s 65 million and the UK’s 62 million – could be said have done more to help Libya militarily than anyone. The Danes used so bombs that at one point they had to borrow more for the Dutch.
A presentation will be given to Libyan businessmen tomorrow, Tuesday, at 6pm at the Mehary Radisson Blu Hotel of potential areas of Danish-Libyan cooperation. [/restrict]
