The Dutch embassy reported yesterday that its team, led by ambassador Joost Klarenbeek, visited Misrata. Klarenbeek took over from his predecessor, Dolf Hogewoning, in August.
The embassy said Libya and the Netherlands share an entrepreneurial spirit. It reported that during their meetings in Misrata they discussed opportunities for sustainable economic cooperation between the two countries.
The visit started with a meeting with Misrata Municipality. At Misrata Free Zone (MFZ), the Dutch embassy received a presentation of the business opportunities the MFZ offers to international companies, and its ambitions for the future.
MFZ reported that the Dutch ambassador expressed his admiration for the advanced infrastructure and existing projects within it. The two sides also talked about the investment mechanism as well as the advantages and exemptions that the MFZ grants to foreign investors, and ways to invite Dutch companies and businessmen to take advantage of the opportunities available for investment within the MFZ.
In the afternoon, the embassy said it had an insightful tour of Al Naseem company, which it said was a long-standing partner of Dutch dairy producers. The embassy reported that the tour included tasting of Al Naseem ice cream made with Dutch milk.
Reporting on the visit, Al-Naseem said the Dutch ambassador expressed his great admiration for the modern infrastructure and the precise system adopted by Al Naseem Company. It said ways of future cooperation and investment opportunities in the food industry sector were discussed. The importance of exchanging technology and expertise between Dutch companies and Al Naseem Company to enhance innovation and improve the quality of products, was emphasized.
Al Naseem reported that the Dutch ambassador thanked it for the opportunity to learn about advanced production techniques. He expressed his desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of food industries between Libya and the Netherlands, stressing that Al Naseem represents one of the most important pillars of future cooperation between the two countries in the field.
Finally, the embassy met the Misrata based Libyan Iron & Steel Company (LISCO) to learn about their business in Libya. Reporting on the meeting, LISCO said they discussed aspects of cooperation in several matters of common interest between the two parties, about the fields of manufacturing and marketing.
LISCO reported that the Dutch ambassador expressed his great admiration for what he saw in the introductory video about the huge capabilities possessed by the company, stressing his support for ways of cooperation between the company and its Dutch counterparts, and that he will do his utmost to encourage his country’s companies and Dutch businessmen to enhance their communication and cooperation with the company.
The embassy said they had returned to Tripoli from the Misrata visit with inspiration and ideas for future cooperation.
