Twenty British businessmen and women visited Tripoli, Zliten and Misrata this week (19 to 23 February) as part of the latest trade delegation organised by the Libya British Business Council (LBBC).
The LBBC said the visit benefitted from the active and able support of the delegation’s Gold Sponsors, Bank ABC and BACB and were guests of the Libyan General Union of Chambers of Commerce. The delegates attended the LBBC’s conference on banking and infrastructure, had a briefing from senior managers at the National Oil Corporation (NOC) and discussed the opportunities presented for their goods and services on individual calls in the margins of the programme.
The programme started on 20 February with, the LBBC said, a high value meeting with the General Union of Chambers Chairman, Mohamed Raied, and representatives of regional Chambers of Commerce. The delegation also met Motasem Dhawi, CEO of the Libyan Businessmen Council (LBC), and LBC members. Both meetings gave the delegates the opportunity to meet and discuss business opportunities with Libyan businessmen.
The British Ambassador, Martin Longden, hosted a reception at which the LBBC’s delegates met a wide range of Libyan businessmen and women.
Conference on banking and infrastructure
The second day of the programme featured a conference on banking and infrastructure which opened with a keynote speech by Saddek Elkaber, Governor of the Central Bank (CBL). Two panels, chaired respectively by Salem Abukhzaam (BACB) and Ghassan Attiga (Bank ABC), brought together distinguished Libyan decision makers to share their expert knowledge and respond to questions from the floor during lively Q&A.
In the afternoon of 21 February, the delegates visited the NOC to meet the Board of Directors, the Chairmen of NOC Operating Companies and other senior executives. This invaluable meeting, the LBBC reported, was chaired by NOC Vice Chairman Khalifa Abdul Sadek and, as in the previous day’s meetings, provided delegates with a privileged briefing (on the NOC’s strategy) and with the opportunity to identify their companies’ goods and services and discuss potential NOC interest in one-to-one discussions.
Zliten and Misrata
On the third day, the delegation left Tripoli to visit Zliten and Misrata. In Zliten, the LBBC group were met by the Mayor of Zliten, Miftah Hamadi, Awad Ramadan Sharif, the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, members of Zliten Council and local business leaders. This was the LBBC’s first visit to Zliten and delegates had the opportunity to hear about the city’s ambitious Zliten Vision 2030 strategy and discuss in one-to-one meetings how their companies’ goods and services could support that plan.
Misrata
In Misrata, the LBBC said the delegation had an excellent meeting with the Chamber of Commerce led by its Chairman Fathi Alamin. Delegates were once again able to introduce themselves to the city’s famously entrepreneurial businesspeople and explore opportunities for their goods and services to contribute to Misrata’s thriving economy and future development.
Peter Millett, LBBC Chairman and leader of the delegation said: “This was the LBBC’s third visit to Libya in the last 2 years. We again had an ambitious, busy and productive series of contacts with our Libyan friends. All our contacts highlighted yet again the appetite in Libya for strengthening the trade relationship with British companies. I was struck by the number of face-to-face contacts that took place where company representatives were talking about tangible business opportunities. The value and impact of these visits is clear. We will be back!”
LBBC trade delegation ends busy Tripoli visit – continues to Zliten and Misrata (libyaherald.com)
LBBC business delegation to visit Tripoli and Misrata from 19 to 23 February 2024 (libyaherald.com)
