The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Foreign and
European Affairs and Trade, Mr. Christopher Cutajar held a three-day visit on 14-16
November in Libya with meetings on political and economic cooperation with
government and private entities in Tripoli and Misurata. In the run up to this visit,
a Ministerial delegation headed by the Hon. Ian Borg, Minister for Foreign and
European Affairs and Trade and Hon. Miriam Dalli, Minister for Environment,
Energy and Enterprise, travelled to Libya on 13 November where they held meetings
with Libyan counterparts to enhance the momentum for more bilateral cooperation
between Malta and Libya, particularly on energy and trade promotion.
With the goal
of expanding Malta’s cooperation with Libya at a municipality level in the
sectors of waste management and primary health care, Mr Cutajar held meetings
with the Mayor of Tripoli, Mr Ibrahim al Khalifi and the Mayor of Misrata Mr
Mahmoud Sigutri, where both sides agreed to hold further discussions at a
technical level on the identified sectors.
The Permanent Secretary
also held discussions with the Libyan General Union of Chamber of Commerce, the
Libya Businessmen Council, and the Chairman of the Misurata Free Zone, Mr Muhsin Sigutri. Following the introduction of two direct
flights per week between Malta and Misurata in September, Malta is seeking to
enhance its commercial ties with Misurata with discussions on the potential
maritime link for cargo and passengers. Both sides agreed on the need to
reinvigorate such maritime links that could lead to more trade exchanges. To
this end, Mr Cutajar also visited the Ferry Terminal Passenger of Misurata
which could potentially be utilised for such maritime link. Discussions also
focused on participation by Libyan enterprises in a forthcoming Malta trade delegation.
The Permanent Secretary also highlighted that following the opening of a visa
application centre in Benghazi, Malta is also studying the possibility of
opening another centre in Misurata to facilitate the submission of visa applications.
The Permanent Secretary also held talks with the
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health, Hon Ramadan Boujnah,
Minister of Women Affairs, Hon. Houria Tarmal and the Deputy Foreign Minister, Hon. Mohammed Isa. The
two sides agreed on convening a Joint Commission at the earliest opportunity to
allow for technical talks and opening new avenues of cooperation.