By Libya Herald reporter.
Tunis, 20 June 2017:
Plans for the First Libya-Italy Economic Forum, due to take place in Sicily next month, were at the centre of discussions today in Rome between Presidency Council (PC) deputy Ahmed Maetig and Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano.
The forum, which will take place in Agrigento on 7 and 8 July, was given the green light during Alfano’s visit to Tripoli last month, although the idea has been around for at least four years.
Details are not yet available. However, Alfano today noted that “many Italian companies “want to return soon to invest in the country”, and that the forum would contribute to “further strengthening the ties of the Italian economic world with Libya”. It would, he added, underline “the strategic importance we attach to Libya” as well as contribute to “further strengthening the ties of the Italian economic world with Libya”.
It would also, he believed, provide “a prime opportunity for a thorough reflection on the opportunities the Libyan market can offer once security is restored”.
Accompanying Maetig in Rome were the PC’s education and local government ministers, Osman Abdel Jalil and Bidad Gansu. The interior minister is also said to be there, although this has not been confirmed.
The education minister was reported to have had talks with Italian companies on fast-track building a number of new kindergartens and schools in Libya. Other educational projects were also discussed.
Investment in education is expected be one of the main planks of the forum.
