In an exciting step towards economic integration, approximately 80 exporting companies from Tunisia and 30 from Libya, are conducting nearly 200 business meetings in Tunisia. Scheduled for the 19th and 20th of June, 2023, these interactions are focused on various sectors including agriculture, food industries, construction, and public works.
The CEO of the Tunisian Export Promotion Centre, Murad Ben Hussein, confirmed that these professional bilateral meetings are a part of the memorandum of understanding concerning the shared strategy signed on November 26, 2022, between the Tunisian Centre and the Libyan Export Development Center.
The objective of these meetings is to foster and develop partnership relations, economic integration, and industrial collaboration between Tunisia and Libya. Moreover, they aim to jointly explore new African markets.
Ben Hussein noted that the plan is based on mutually accessing global markets and exchanging expertise. Furthermore, he pointed out that the program for the second half of this year includes a joint business mission to Senegal in October 2023. Additionally, a joint participation will be organized covering 300 square meters at the African Trade Fair in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, from 21 to 27 November 2023, alongside a business mission to Niger in December 2023.
Muhammad Ali Al Zayb, General Manager of the Libyan Export Development Center, mentioned that Tunisia is Tripoli’s first Arab partner. He pointed out the confidence that Tunisian products enjoy among Libyan consumers. Al Zayb discussed the challenges Libyan actors face in accessing the Tunisian market to promote their products. These Libyan products are either consumed locally, used as raw materials, or exported to other countries via Tunisia.
The program includes conducting professional meetings and organizing field visits. The Libyan delegation and representatives of Libyan companies active in the food industries will visit the International Food Industries Exhibition for Africa, held at the Exhibition Center in El Kram from June 20 to 23, 2023.
The joint strategy of the Tunisian Export Promotion Centre and the Libyan Centre revolves around organizing economic missions for businesspersons from both countries to support partnerships in marketing fields. It also aims to create cooperation opportunities and exchange experiences in organizing and mentoring missions, alongside enhancing the presence of both countries in African markets.
The mentioned strategy also includes mentoring stubborn institutions, supporting capacities in the field of export value chains, and identifying successful experiences in export development.
Libya is a strategic economic and commercial partner for Tunisia, with exchanges exceeding 3 billion dinars, equivalent to 970 million dollars in 2022, according to organizers. More than a thousand Tunisian institutions export their products to the Libyan market.
This piece focuses on fostering economic partnerships, exploring new markets, and integrating industries between Tunisia and Libya, providing key insights for readers interested in the development of international trade and market dynamics in North Africa.
