By Michel Cousins.
Tripoli, 5 December:
Malta is hoping to open a consulate in Misrata. It would be the first foreign consulate in the . . .[restrict]city, which is fast turning into reality its ambitions to become the business capital of Libya.
“We would like to do this as quickly as possible”, Malta’s Ambassador Victor Camilleri told the Libya Herald.
The new consulate would deal with the usual consular affairs such as visa applications but would also concentrate on developing commercial ties with the city. “We attach great importance to business relations in Misrata”.
The Misrata move is part of an expansion of Malta’s diplomatic presence in Libya.
Its consulate in Benghazi is looking to move office into bigger premises to accommodate its growing workload. The embassy is currently looking for a suitable building.
“We’re very committed to working with the whole country”, said Camillieri.
As part of the growing workload in Tripoli, the Maltese consulate has now outsourced its visa application operations. As of yesterday, Tuesday, applications and collection of Maltese visas are now being dealt with by VFS Global at their offices on the 12th floor of Tripoli Tower, which will be open between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm, Sunday to Thursday (public holidays excepted). All applications, however, will continue to be assessed and processed by the embassy. The embassy says the move should see improvements in service. It will also see an end to the long queues for Libyans outside the Tripoli consulate applying for visa’s to visit Malta.
Applications can be made between 8.30 am and 1.30 pm and deliveries from 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm. A service fee for normal applications of LD 55 whiuch does not include embassy visa fees.
For more information about the visa application centre, go to http://www.vfsglobal.com/Malta/Libya/English/index.html [/restrict]
