'Deep-rooted' business ties set to continue

The introduction of travel visas between Malta and Libya is likely to be followed by a couple of months of teething problems but Malta Enterprise chairman Joe Zammit Tabona believes this will not stop the "deep-rooted", two-way commercial relationship between the two countries.

"In fact, solid business relations started well before we had the visa-free period," he said.

However, Mr Zammit Tabona told The Times, the visa will alter the way most Maltese businessmen work. "They have to plan their visits to Libya, especially their first visit. From now on, one has to apply for an entry visa well before the actual date of travel," he said.

In fact, he added, Malta Enterprise was "envisaging some two months of teething problems". He explained that the Libyan and Maltese immigration offices will be flooded with requests and this volume of work will determine the length of time a person must wait for a visa to be approved.

On a positive note, Mr Zammit Tabona said the peak of business visits is coming to an end because fewer businessmen travel to Libya in the hot season. He said: "Things will have normalised by the time most businessmen start going to Libya again."

The visas between the two countries will come into force on May 1 and three different kinds of documents have been established - an entry visa, a multiple visa and a working visa, each costing Lm2.50.

Maltese people who want to stay in Libya for a prolonged period for work purposes can apply for a six-month residence permit on the basis of which they will be given an exit/re-entry visa valid for six months allowing them to leave and re-enter Libya without any problems.

Those who need to visit Libya on a regular basis can apply for a multiple entry visa, valid for 90 days.

Mr Zammit Tabona said the operations of the Malta Enterprise's Libya office will be slightly affected in May, the first month of the new system. "This is not due to the introduction of the visa itself but rather due to the fact that agreement between Malta and Libya was only reached at the 11th hour."

Mr Zammit Tabona explained that Malta Enterprise holds eight trade delegations to Libya every year, besides participating in the Tripoli International Fair. Planning has to take place three months before each delegation and procedures could not be finalised for next month's delegation.

"Otherwise, our operations will proceed as usual, although with an increase in the volume of administrative work related to the visa applications," he said.

The nature of the Libya office operations were also changing slightly because of the change from the Malta External Trade Corporation to Malta Enterprise. Mr Zammit Tabona said Malta Enterprise planned to give "added weight to investment in Malta, over and above the product/service promotion".

He said that since one could apply for multiple-entry visas, no problems were envisaged in the service-related business. The situation could have been considerably worse; single entry visas would have been a far greater stumbling block.

He explained that due to the proximity to Libya, back-up service could be provided within 24 hours and added that with the multiple visa system "we still have this cutting edge".

Mr Zammit Tabona stressed that under the agreement reached between the two governments last week, visas will not "drastically" affect the business relationship between the two countries.