Maltese 'shopping festival' to be held in Tripoli

The Libyan-Maltese Chamber of Commerce is holding the Malta-Libya Shopping Festival in Tripoli, Libya from November 20 to 29.

The chamber said the fair would be a unique opportunity for Maltese companies to sell their products and services to the Libyan consumer.

It said that following the lifting of UN sanctions, there was a great deal of untapped potential business in Libya.

The festival is being organised during the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims start preparing for the celebration of Eid.

This consists of three days of festivities marked in the same way Christians prepare for Christmas - by buying items, especially clothes, toys, household goods and other items, to give as gifts.

The chamber said the festival was being planned in accordance with Libyan traditions and customs, and would therefore be held in the evenings only, between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.

This is when Libyans, after breaking their fast, shop till the early hours of the morning in Tripoli's main streets.

The chamber said the purpose of a "cash and carry" festival was to facilitate the conclusion of transactions on the spot.

The chamber has joined forces with a Libyan organisation, Sahara Libya, which is experienced in the running of such events and through whose efforts permission for the festival was granted.

The chamber and Sahara Libya are now negotiating with the Libyan authorities to obtain a special concession on import tariffs through the Maltese foreign and finance ministries.

The chamber said it was doing its utmost to obtain a permit so that all imports into Libya for the festival would be subject to a special standard customs tariff of only 10 per cent duty, as opposed to the normal varied tariffs charged in accordance with the different products imported.

Participation is open to all Maltese companies interested in doing business with Libya.

The chamber is also planning to take up Maltese culture, folklore, arts, food and drink so that the festival will be a showcase of Malta and further enhance the island's image in Tripoli.

The festival will coincide with the inauguration of the multi-million dollar Maltese hotel project, the Corinthia Tripoli and with the end of a 12-month programme of trade missions by the Metco Libya office.

The chamber said that it may be wise for prospective exhibitors to visit Tripoli before the festival to evaluate the quality and prices on the market and to study the tastes and styles that sell in Libya.

The festival will be followed by a similar event in Malta to promote Libyan goods which could also be of interest to European markets through Malta, the chamber said.

Registration for participation in the festival closes in September.