A Labour government would ensure a faster, more transparent method of issuing visas for Libyans travelling to Malta as part of a four-pronged foreign policy strategy unveiled by Joseph Muscat, yesterday.

You cannot conduct business in Libya by remote control through e-mails and telephones

Speaking on the second day of a business conference themed New Libya Forum, Dr Muscat said the visa framework, while respecting Malta’s Schengen obligations, had to be simplified to send out the message that Libyans were welcome to visit Malta.

He said a Labour government would help Libya build its human resources capacity in areas such as education and health care by adopting a “train the trainer” approach.

Another priority area would be the development of research in alternative and renewable energy, waste water treatment and health. This would involve the University of Malta and Libyan institutes.

A vehicle would be developed to invest financial resources in these areas, Dr Muscat added.

The fourth priority a Labour government would work on is the setting up of “a proper and well-resourced” business centre in Tripoli, offering temporary office space, services and facilities for Maltese wanting to do business in Libya.

However, in the short term, restoring security and providing humanitarian aid were the priority, Dr Muscat said, adding that Malta was in “duty bound” to help Libya in its hard-won transformation but had to do so “at the Libyans’ own pace”.

A strong relationship with Libya had first to be built on friendship between both nations, something that might have been ignored in the recent past, he added.

“Malta and Libya are natural partners. They have always been so and will continue being so,” Dr Muscat said.

The two-day conference, organised by Maltese consultancy firm EMCS and auditors Deloitte, started on Monday and brought together scores of Maltese, Libyan and foreign businessmen.

Businessmen heard analysts telling them to look for opportunities in Libya by seeking partnerships there with private investors who may have been subdued in the past because of the obfuscating Gaddafi regime.

But they were also warned to get on the ground and do business face to face.

“You cannot conduct business in Libya by remote control through e-mails and telephones,” conference organiser John Grech, an economist, said.

Reacting to Dr Muscat’s statement, the government said 2,596 visas were processed by Malta’s consulates in Libya in the first two months of the year.

The Foreign Ministry accused Dr Muscat of failing to mention specific measures taken by the central visa unit to facilitate visa issuance to Libyan nationals, measures that dated back to 2007.

Before joining Schengen five years ago, the government had already simplified visa issuance through various initiatives, the ministry said.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com

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