Malta Enterprise re-opens commercial office in Tripoli

The re-opening of the Office follows the past months’ intensive work by Malta Enterprise to assist those companies who have been hit by the situation in Libya to the extent of drastically downsizing or curtailing their operations in Libya and in certain cases also in Malta.

Since the beginning of the conflict, Malta Enterprise has assisted around 70 Maltese companies who had a commercial interest or presence in Libya with almost 200 separate issues, ranging from speeding up payments owed to the companies by Government departments or entities, to deferring payments they owed themselves such as tax, VAT and social security.

Companies were also provided with Malta Enterprise’s businesses advisory services or assisted to find new markets when required.

In a statement, the Corporation noted the resumption of certain operations, albeit to varying extents, of Maltese companies based in or providing services to the Libyan people.

The Libya Commercial Office will therefore provide a central point of contact for all Malta Enterprise services and support for businessmen and entrepreneurs seeking or willing to establish or further commercial and business links with Libya.

The Libya Commercial Office will be operated by Office Coordinator Salem Megdami, who has been employed with Malta Enterprise since 2000, and will provide on-the-ground assistance and deliver the services it used to prior to the conflict. Megdami will be supported by the whole team at the Malta Head Office.

Enterprises in both countries – whether Maltese companies interested in doing business with Libya or vice-versa – will thus have a focal point that could also provide them with a range of practical services designed to facilitate business.

Amongst others, these include assistance in the establishment of contacts, provision of business advisory and market research services, as well as identification and transmission of business opportunities including through a tender information service.

Malta Enterprise also runs a Malta-Libya Business Club which publishes a bi-monthly Libya Business Newsletter, while it shall eventually also facilitate the organisation of business delegations and participation in trade fairs in Libya which are already being planned. Enrolment in the Malta-Libya Business Club is therefore being recommended for all those who wish to keep themselves updated of developments and also have access to documentation in English about procurement and procedures for business in Libya.

Although the option of opening up an office in Benghazi was being considered, as the conflict is nearing its conclusion it is increasingly becoming clear that Tripoli shall be the major commercial centre in the country and thus the Office is being re-opened at the same location at the ex-Al Fateh Tower- now renamed Tripoli Tower - in order to be close to the Libyan business community.