
The first part of the Libya France Business Forum 2026 began on April 14 in Marseille, France, with significant participation from economic institutions and business leaders from both Libya and France. Attendees included Mohamed Hamouda, Chargé d’affaires of the Libyan Embassy in France, the French Ambassador to Libya, the French Ambassador for the Mediterranean region, and the Vice President of the Marseille Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Speakers emphasized the importance of developing bilateral economic relations, supporting French companies' return to the Libyan market, enhancing the investment environment, and building sustainable strategic partnerships. The Chargé d’affaires highlighted Marseille's historical role as a bridge for commercial and cultural exchange and noted positive indicators in Libya, such as an agreement to unify public spending and the upcoming 52nd Tripoli International Fair. He also stressed the need for direct flights and simplified visa procedures to facilitate economic cooperation. The forum aims to discuss cooperation opportunities in trade, infrastructure, healthcare, and technology, with bilateral meetings planned to foster practical projects. The Tripoli Foreign Ministry stated that the forum marks a significant step in advancing Libyan-French relations. The second part of the forum is scheduled for April 16 in Paris.
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The Undersecretary of Libya's Ministry of Housing and Construction, Abu Bakr Oweidat, met with a delegation from the French company SUEZ in Tripoli. SUEZ is a global leader in water, sanitation, and infrastructure management. The meeting is part of the Ministry's strategy to enhance international cooperation and form strategic partnerships with specialized global institutions to support national reconstruction and infrastructure development efforts. Discussions focused on establishing an institutional partnership with SUEZ to leverage its expertise in planning, design, implementation, operations, and asset management to improve water and sanitation systems in Libya. Both parties also explored mechanisms for a joint strategic vision to develop and maintain water and sewage networks across Libyan cities, aligning with sustainable development goals. This initiative aims to foster technical cooperation through expertise exchange, knowledge transfer, technology localization, and national capacity building. The Ministry's Undersecretary emphasized the importance of strategic partnerships for development and reconstruction programs, and for accelerating vital projects. The meeting concluded with an agreement to continue technical coordination and to draft a framework and joint strategic vision to define cooperation priorities and implementation mechanisms, supporting the state's reconstruction objectives and the "Return to Life" initiative for sustainable urban development and impro

South Africa's Minister of Human Settlements, Thembi Simelane, met with Libya's Minister of Housing and Construction, Essam Al-Tamouni, to explore cooperation in housing and urban development. Minister Simelane provided an overview of South Africa's Ministry of Human Settlements, while Minister Al-Tamouni outlined his ministry's strategic mandates and plans for utility sector development. Department directors from both sides gave technical presentations, fostering an exchange of insights. The meeting concluded with an agreement to enhance communication between Libya's Ministry of Housing and Construction and South Africa's Ministry of Human Settlements' Research and Studies Department, aiming to exchange expertise and establish frameworks for sustainable cooperation and shared goals.
The Ministry of Economy and Trade announced the registration of 106 decisions for branches of foreign companies, joint ventures, and representative offices from January to June 2026. This reflects growing investor confidence and an improved business environment in Libya. The decisions include 79 foreign company branches, 19 joint ventures, and 4 representative offices. The contracting sector led with 43 decisions, followed by oil and energy with 34. Turkey ranked first in terms of nationality with 17 decisions, followed by Tunisia with 13, and the United Arab Emirates and China with 7 each. The Ministry attributes these indicators to government efforts to develop the investment climate, simplify procedures, and strengthen international economic partnerships. Additionally, an e-website for foreign company registration will launch in August 2026 to streamline procedures and enhance transparency.