Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kostas Fragogiannis’ visit and business mission to Libya (03-04.10.2021)

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kostas Fragogiannis, heading the first European business mission to Libya which is under reconstruction, carried out a two-day working visit on October 3rd and 4th. in Tripoli, which was his second visit in the last three months. The Deputy Minister was accompanied by the Secretary General for International Economic Affairs and Openness and President of Enterprise Greece, Ioannis Smyrlis and the Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, Ioannis Chrysoulakis.

The Deputy Minister along with the Prime Minister of Libya, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh inaugurated the 11th “Libya Build” International Construction Fair, where Greece participates with a national pavilion. “The presence of a Greek pavilion at the most important building and construction international fair in Libya, is a message from Greece, to the Libyan authorities and the business communities of the two countries, that the time is right to launch many mutually beneficial collaborations,” Mr. Fragogiannis said following the opening of the Fair and the Greek pavilion.

The Deputy Minister also addressed the first Greek-Libyan business forum, during which a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Enterprise Greece and the Libyan Investment Authority.

Mr. Fragogiannis met with the Libyan Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kalil Issa, and he reiterated the Greek position for a Libya standing on its own two feet, without foreign dependencies. He underscored that Greece is willing to help in this direction. He also stressed the need for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Libya, while he signaled that Greece strongly supports the holding of elections on December 24.

The Deputy Minister then met with the Libyan Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for International Economic Cooperation, Mr. El Ketty, where they both agreed on the need to deepen trade and economic relations between the two countries.

During the meeting with the Libyan Minister of Transport, Mr. Mohammed Elsh’houbi, the common will was expressed for the resumption of the air and sea connectivity between Greece and Libya, while the possibility of providing training and technical assistance to the Libyan Coast Guard was also discussed.

Accompanied by Greek entrepreneurs who are active in the health sector, the Deputy Minister also met with the Libyan Minister of Health, Mr. Ali Zenati, with whom they explored ways in which Greece can support the reconstruction and development of Libya in the sectors of health and welfare. Besides, Greece, as Mr. Fragogiannis stressed, has demonstrated in practice its solidarity with the Libyan society, responding positively to the needs of addressing the coronavirus pandemic by sending 200,000 vaccines.

Finally, on the sidelines of the official meetings, the Greek delegation had contacts with members of the Greek community and Greek entrepreneurs in Libya.