Malta and modern Libya

Libya today celebrates the 40th anniversary of the September 1 Revolution.

In 1969, news from Libya said that a young army lieutenant, Muammar Gaddafi, led a revolutionary movement, toppled the monarchy regime and demanded the evacuation of British and US military forces from his country, also calling on all Italian settlers to leave Libya.

Foreign oil companies running Libya's oil industry were also asked to leave. As soon as the country was free from foreign presence, the Libyan leader propelled the country into a programme of reconstruction and development. From then on, Libya continued to make the headlines in one way or another.

Today, Libya is still making news. Now that the country has shored up differences with the West, had the international embargo against it lifted and thoroughly changed its foreign policy, it is again following an aggressive development programme, which is tickling the interest of investors and entrepreneurs the world over. Now that Libya has opened itself for investment, it has become an entrepreneur's haven and foreign companies are swooping down on Libya as bees to a beehive... And Malta?

Malta was one of the first countries to immediately recognise the new state of Libya in 1969. Geographically next-door neighbours, relations between Malta and Libya go back a long way. Once Malta became independent, the first embassy it opened was in Libya. Locals had been trading with each other for ages. And Malta had recognised the just announced Republic of Libya.

Contacts increased and exchanges of delegations along the years resulted in a host of agreements between the two countries, which, in turn, resulted in practical investment ventures and a sizeable number of companies were set up by the two countries. It is a pity that, due mainly to mismanagement, political innuendos and lack of entrepreneurship and interest, some of the companies did not adapt and move ahead. They got themselves in difficulties and, finally, had to be wrapped up. Those left, in the majority, are doing quite well and posting good profits.

This perhaps reflects the situation as to how most of us regard relations between Malta and Libya. We have always taken these relations for granted... and when problems cropped up, we squirmed. Like everything else in life, one cannot always take things for granted. Circumstances change, things evolve and develop. Likewise, relations are a living thing, they have to be nurtured and cultivated incessantly. One has to be always there, planning, programming, shoring up, keeping abreast of information and opportunities.

And Libya is now full of these and is just under an hour's flight away. However, ironically we tend to look for investment and job opportunities in countries on the other side of the globe while missing out on those opportunities at our doorstep. Some argue that things have now changed and it is no longer that easy to do business with Libya. This is very true. But this is where good entrepreneurship comes in. Successful businessmen are those who adapt to circumstances and make use of them. This is opportunity.

Libya is now organising itself into a newly-built country. It has learned from the experience of the past. It wants to build in the proper manner. It has drafted a set of rules and regulations. Businessmen who want to trade with EU countries have to abide by their rules. Likewise with Libya.

About 180 Maltese companies are today involved with Libya. They have come to grips with developments, rules and regulations and systems of the new Libya and are doing well. Some have been doing business with Libya and in Libya for 20 to 30 years, participating closely in Libya's economic growth and development. Many are still involved in major development projects providing a broad range of goods and services, skills, manpower and expertise in a variety of areas. Some have even opened shop there and their services and products range from health and hospitality services to logistics, air transport, financial services and industrial supplies. And they continue to do so, notwithstanding new developments in regulations. They have adapted to circumstances and have made use of these new situations, which others tend to consider as insurmountable hurdles.

Libya's ambitious plans to rebuild its infrastructure, to modernise its economy and to make proper use of its oil revenues offer a myriad of opportunities for those ready to grab them. Maltese entrepreneurs have a lot of experience and know-how as well as quite a number of international contacts. Putting heads together, joining and working together, forming consortia, could be one way of hitting the vast Libyan market. Beside the great advantage of a similarity in language, we in Malta have the advantage of a unique age-long relationship with Libya. Let's put it also to good use.

Mr Cordina has been involved in Maltese Libyan affairs for the past 34 years and for 15 years held the post of PR and cultural officer of the Libyan Embassy in Malta. He is editing the newspaper Mediterranean Review, which is published in Malta and distributed abroad.

Joecord@onvol.net