CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE EVENT PAGE
Around 200 delegates from the UK and Libyan business communities gathered in London on 20 November for the Business Fair Libya, which was hailed as a landmark in strengthening UK-Libyan commercial cooperation.
The event organised by the Arab British Chamber of Commerce in close collaboration with the Libyan Businessmen Council (LBC) witnessed a delegation from Libya of over 80 business executives seeking to export their goods to the UK and forge partnerships with UK investors.
The Business Fair followed on from the participation of Libyan businesses in the Arab British Economic Summit in 2023 when a formal partnership agreement was signed between the ABCC and the LBC.
Held at the Thistle Hotel Marble Arch, London, the conference brought together investors, exporters, business operators and consultants to discuss maximising the opportunities in sectors ranging from energy and renewables, banking and finance, construction, tourism, healthcare and education.
The event was formally opened by the Rt Hon Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, Chairman of the ABCC and Mr Bandar Reda, CEO & Secretary General, ABCC, alongside representatives from the Libyan Businessmen Council.
Baroness Symons and Mr Reda indicated that the ABCC was ready to assist any company seeking to invest and do business in Libya.
Whiba Holding and Bank ABC were key sponsors of the Business Fair whose support was invaluable to its success.
The programme consisted of four sessions where panels of experts shared their insights into the Libyan business environment and emerging opportunities in energy, banking and finance, infrastructure and tourism, healthcare and education. The sessions were moderated by Peter Millet, Chairman, Libyan British Business Council, Daniel Kawczynski, a former MP and lobbyist, and Alan Rides, CEO, West London Chambers of Commerce.
Several Libyan companies showcased their products and services at the fair with a view to attracting investors and finding new commercial partnerships with UK counterparts.
The clear message to British business was that Libya was making great strides in rebuilding its infrastructure, opening up its economy and becoming a much more secure place to do business. The market now offered exceptional and growing opportunities for UK exporters and investors in multiple sectors.
Obstacles to doing business such as security issues, access to finance and cumbersome visa processes were addressed by various speakers who were hopeful that satisfactory solutions would soon be found to ease the business processes.
Following the event’s success, the ABCC indicated plans for future activities to advance bilateral cooperation including organising a large delegation of British firms to visit Libya to explore the many opportunities that were opening up.
The potential for Libya’s tourism to flourish was highlighted by speakers who described a country that was home to many unique heritage sites, and which possessed an attractive natural landscape that not yet on the international tourism map.
In closing remarks, Mr Abdeslam El-Idrissi, ABCC Deputy CEO & Secretary General, thanked the sponsors and partners who had worked with the ABCC to create an event that inspired confidence and renewed the potential for UK-Libya cooperation.
He looked forward to the Chamber stepping up its activities to promote bilateral relations in the coming year along with other activities such as hosting ABES25 in June 2025 and plans to mark the ABCC’s 50thanniversary.
Between the sessions, the Libyan Businessmen Council delivered formal thanks to the ABCC for its work by making a presentation to Mr Reda and Mr El-Idrissi.
Delegates left the event energised with optimism about the growing prospects for doing business in and with Libya.