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.
