The Tunisian-Libyan Economic Cooperation Council announced that the Benghazi International Fair will kick off on 17 October. It had been postponed due to the closure of the common borders with Libya.
The Council called on Tunisian companies and businessmen to participate in the international fair to be held from 17-21 October.
It is expected that the fair will attract about 300,000 visitors, and the participation of 500 companies from neighbouring Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco.
Three exhibitions will be organized, namely “Libya for Building and Construction”, “Libya for Household Appliances” and the “Benghazi International Food Fair.”
The fair will be organized at the initiative of the Eastern Regional Branch of the Libyan Business Council, under the auspices of the Libyan Center for Export Development.
Executive Director of the Council of Tunisian-Libyan Economic Cooperation, Saber Bouguerra held several meetings with officials in Benghazi. He called for the opening of a Tunisian consulate in Benghazi, to facilitate procedures for investors.
He told Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) that several meetings took place in September with the mayor of Benghazi. The officials discussed the modalities of cooperation and ways to intensify the commercial presence in the region.
The Tunisian-Libyan Economic Cooperation Council signed in late August 2021, a memorandum of cooperation with the Libyan Council of Businessmen of the Eastern Region.
The MoU aims to develop and implement joint programmes in various areas. This is in addition to taking advantage of the expertise of human resources to boost economic cooperation between the two countries, according to the All Africa news website.
Under this agreement, travel, entry, and residence procedures will be facilitated for entrepreneurs from both countries, as well as goods and equipment. Similarly, trade barriers will be reduced.
Bougerra said that war-torn Benghazi has many industrial zones, and needs huge reconstruction planning.
The Libyan Business Council is considered the legal body representing businessmen in Libya. It aims to develop the role of the private sector in economic development.