ibyan Investment Minister of the Parliament-designate government, Ali al-Saidi praised Egypt’s crucial role in supporting Libya.
In an interview with “Al-Masry Al-Youm” during his participation in the International Economic Forum of Kazan “Russia-Islamic World,” the Libyan minister highlighted Cairo’s significant contributions in supporting Libya.
“Without Egypt’s support, Libya would have been lost,” he said.
He expressed appreciation for Egypt’s stance on the Palestinian issue and the need to halt the aggression on Gaza.
The minister also called for Egypt’s involvement in the reconstruction of Libya. He described Libya as a “poisoned cake” for the West, suggesting that Western countries are eager to exploit Libya’s resources.
Al-Saidi indicated that both presidential and parliamentary elections in Libya are unlikely to occur before 2025.
Moreover, he firmly opposed any American presence in Libya, underscoring the country’s desire for sovereignty and self-determination.
Notably, Mohamed Rafie, Director-General of the Libyan-Egyptian Chamber of Commerce, announced plans to host the Fourth Libyan-Egyptian Business Forum in Egypt by the end of this year.
Rafie also revealed plans for a joint free trade zone between Egypt and Libya in the Jufrah region, aiming to boost Egyptian exports to the African market.
He emphasizsed the potential sectors to benefit from the proposed zone, including food industries, construction materials, and more.
Regarding trade relations, Rafie cited significant improvements in trade indicators, especially concerning Egyptian exports of agricultural products, food items, and construction materials, expecting growth rates to exceed 40-50% this year.
Notably, the Vice-President of the Egyptian Workers’ Union, Magdy El-Badawy, revealed details of Libya’s plan to import two million workers from Egypt in 2024.
He further emphasised that coordination had been established between Egyptian and Libyan officials, and an electronic linkage between the two countries had been established to facilitate the recruitment of Egyptian workers. The recruitment process would be conducted through government rather than individuals, and Egyptian companies would play a role in organizing and sending the workforce to Libya.
Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The county has for years been split between rival administrations.
The planned elections for December 2021 were delayed due to disagreements over election laws and the eligibility of certain candidates. This delay has raised concerns about the feasibility of a peaceful political transition.
