A delegation from the french MEDEF will arrive in Libya on Sunday, for the first visit of its kind since 2012. It will meet with several Ministers of the Government of National Unity (GNU) to study the signing of several contracts in the field of reconstruction.
According to the French magazine, Jeune Afrique, the visit aims to reaffirm French interest in Libya, ahead of the international conference on Libya led by Emmanuel Macron.
The French groups are finally setting foot on the Libyan market. First scheduled for the summer and then postponed to September, a delegation from the MEDEF employers’ organization will visit Tripoli from October 10th to 12th. This will be the first since 2012 to visit the country marked by conflict and instability since the fall of Moammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011.
This small delegation, including the oil giant Total, and the hospital manager of Denos Health Management led by Philippe Gautier, CEO of MEDEF international, and Philippe Tavernier, Africa and Middle East Director at Vinci Construction Grands Projects. They will be accompanied by Jérôme Barthe, the President of the Franco-Libyan chamber of commerce.
According to information, they plan to meet with several Ministers including Mohamed Ali Huweij (Economy), Ali Al Zanati (Health), Najla Al-Mangoush (Foreign Affairs), Mohamed Aoun (Oil) and Mohamed El Shahubi (Transport). The delegation is also due to meet the Head of Libyan chambers of commerce, Mohamed Raed.
In early October, the GNU Prime Minister Abdelhamid Al-Dbaiba, announced the readiness of the French company Total to invest more than €14 billion in Libya. The Italian company Eni confirmed its intention to invest €12 billion in the oil fields. All this will take place before the end of 2021.
Oil-rich Libya has been mired in chaos since the ouster and killing of Moammar Gaddafi in 2011. On March 16th, power was handed over from the former Presidential Council to the new one, and from the 2014 Government of National Accord (GNA) to the Government of National Unity (GNU).