A forum planned for the end of this month will provide a peek at the evolving situation in Libya and set up a platform for businesses wanting to help in rebuilding a “new Libya”.

We lost a lot, and we now have to build a lot

The forum will bring together Maltese and international delegates interested in using Malta as a business springboard to the North African country.

Organised by Deloitte and EMCS Group, the forum will provide information about the Libyan state of affairs as well as an insider’s perspective into the main challenges and opportunities in the “new Libya”. The forum was inspired by Malta’s role as a humanitarian platform during the Libyan revolution which saw a war-torn country bidding farewell to its dictator of 40 years, Muammar Gaddafi.

“The Libyan war was a wave of the Arab Spring which took place in the Middle East as a reaction to the pre-existing social, political and economic situation,” EMCS Group chair John Grech said.

“The forum comes at the right time because there are people in Libya who want to change things. The country’s direction is evolving and we – as outsiders – cannot force a bearing on the change taking place but can help in bringing this change about,” he said.

EMCS managing director Adrian Said said international delegates from the UK, Holland, Jordan, Libya, France and Italy had already shown a strong interest in the forum.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Opposition leader Joseph Muscat and British MP Daniel Kawczynski form part of the line-up.

Ahmed Jehani, the former Reconstruction Minister of the National Transitional Council of Libya, Guma El Gamaty, former UK coordinator for the NTC, and Ahmed Shembesh, founder of the Libyan Foundation for Rehabilitation will also be present.

Dr Shembesh said Malta had helped Libya heal its wound but the focus now had to shift to the traumatised people.

“We lost a lot, and we now have to build a lot. We have to focus on helping Libyan people help themselves,” he said, adding Malta could serve as a hub for young Libyans to specialise in psychology, health consultation and social work.

Mr Said said speakers would provide jigsaw pieces for the rest to put together and get a better picture while understanding Malta’s vital role in helping develop Libya’s new future. The organisers are looking into the possibility of holding a similar event in Tripoli in the coming months.

A portal ( http://newlibyaforum.com ) will keep the forum alive after the event takes place on February 27 and 28.

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