Benghazi— Libya and Italy are moving quickly to strengthen economic cooperation in the private sector as competition among nations to gain part of the huge Libyan potential intensifies.
On 11 April, the EmaarLibya Holding Company signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed to cooperate and coordinate their work in eastern and southern Libya focusing on taking part in the reconstruction drive in the cities of Benghazi, Derna, Sebha and other parts of Libya.
Mr. Abdulhamid Awad, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of EmaarLibya, and Nicola Colicchi, President of the Italian-Libyan Chamber of Commerce, signed the cooperation MoU at ceremony that was attended by the Italian Deputy Amb. to Libya, Richard Villa, and the Italian Consul General in Benghazi, Francis Xavier De Luigi, along with a number of Libyan local officials and businessmen.
“The meeting discussed avenues of cooperation and investment partnership opportunities between Italian and Libyan companies. It also addressed projects the company aspires to develop, such as mining, agriculture, fishing, and the development of free zones,” said a statement by EmaarLibya on its Facebook platform.
“Concrete actions are also planned to facilitate participation in international fairs, encourage the presence of Italian companies in Libya and support Libyan exports to Italy, in particular of dates, fish and olive oil. Emaar Holding is one of the most powerful conglomerates in Eastern Libya, with interests in several strategic sectors and strong ties with the local political-military leadership,” according to Nova News.
The Italian-Libyan Chamber of Commerce’s delegation visited a number of Benghazi hospitals and universities where they found strong demand for Italian technologies and products, especially in Italian medical and academic training, it added.
