The Project Committee for the ‘‘Best Libyan Local Product Award’’ held a meeting last Wednesday, 18 October, at the headquarters of the Libyan Export Promotion Centre (LEPC). The meeting was to study and discuss the standards, controls, and mechanisms proposed by the National Industry Promotion Authority (NIPA), under the supervision of the Ministry of Industry and Minerals.
The meeting included the participation and cooperation of representatives of the Ministry of Economy and Trade, the Industrial Research Centre, the Food and Drugs Control Centre, the National Centre for Standardization and Standardization, the Union of Libyan Industry, and the Libyan Raqib Organization for Consumer Protection.
Product quality standards and USP
Commenting on the meeting and its results, the Media Office Director at the LEPC, Mohamed Al-Belaili, told Libya Herald that the meeting comes within the ongoing efforts to encourage and support local industry and to push it towards applying all comprehensive quality standards for the Libyan local product. It is also to push towards providing advantages related to what is produced in Libyan factories that differ from the same manufactured products in other countries.
Al-Belaili pointed out that the meeting of authorities concerned with local industries reviewed the standards and controls necessary for the participating local product to obtain the award for the best Libyan product. The form of the award’s brand and logo and its budget were also discussed, along with a proposal for the benefits and exemptions enjoyed by the industrial activities that win the award, as well as the annual date and timing of the award, the creation of its own website, the date of launching the award, and the award’s platform.
Packaging workshop to be held early next year
In the same context, Al-Beliali said that a workshop will be held at the beginning of next year on packing and packaging local products in an attractive way in order to enhance the quality and competitiveness of local goods and products. To this end, communication will be made with international companies specialized in this field to benefit from them in transferring their experience to Libyan factories so that Libyan products become more competitive in global markets.
Award date to be set next year
Al-Beliali stressed that the date of the award will be set during the coming year in agreement between the LEPC and NIPA with the rest of the parties involved in the field of local industry, after completing the necessary procedures to launch it on an annual basis without conflicting with dates for other occasions.
Concept first floated in 2021
It will be recalled, and as reported by Libya Herald at the time, that the idea of presenting an award for the best locally produced product was floated in 2021 when the Tripoli Chamber of Commerce announced in November 2021 that it is launching an annual award for the ‘‘best Libyan product’’.
In April this year the Ministry of Industry and Minerals, through its NIPA, announced that it intends to launch the Best National Product Award and that it had formed a committee for this purpose.
First of its kind in Libya
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Libya Herald at the time, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Minerals for Public Affairs, Production Affairs and Industrial Zones, Mustafa Al-Samu, had said that this initiative is the first of its kind in Libya.
Idea inspired by visits of local factories
He explained that this initiative came after the visit of the Minister of Industry and Minerals, Ahmed Abu Hisa, accompanied by the Prime Minister, Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba, to some factories in the private sector. These were inaugurated and opened to be an addition to local industry that aims to revitalize the national economy, diversify sources of income, and employ the Libyan workforce for internal sufficiency and the export of surplus abroad.
Encourage local industrial competition
Al-Sumu had added that the launch of the Best Local Product Award project stems from the vision and objectives of the Ministry of Industry and Minerals, which contributes to industrial development and through the tasks entrusted to the NIPA. This comes in the pursuit of this authority to provide an encouraging environment for various industries inside Libya and create the appropriate atmosphere for investment in local factories in all Libya.
It is within the effort to create a spirit of competition in the local and global market, which will reflect positively on a Libyan product that competes at home and abroad according to international quality standards.
The award will become a positive mark on Libyan products locally and abroad
Al-Samu had said that he hoped that the award will be a distinguishing and distinctive mark for any Libyan product that obtains it, which raises the percentage of confidence in the quality of Libyan products at home and abroad. This, he added, is what will make the award have a positive imprint placed on what is manufactured in Libya.
Libyan products win international awards
It will be recalled, however, that numerous Libyan products have won several awards abroad, including for best olive oil and honey.
Tripoli Chamber of Commerce to launch annual ‘‘best Libyan product’’ award (libyaherald.com)
Ministry of Industry launches awards for the best locally-made product (libyaherald.com)
First National Olive Oil Prize launched (libyaherald.com)
Libyan olive oil from Gharian wins two international prizes during May (libyaherald.com)
Libya’s Libico olive oil from Gharian wins another international prize (libyaherald.com)
Libyan olive oils win prizes at Berlin awards – plans to increase production | (libyaherald.com)
Libyan honey wins gold in France (libyaherald.com)
