Canada-Libya Chamber of Commerce (CLCC) To Establish Trade Office for Bilateral Trade and Education

OTTAWA, Ontario and TRIPOLI, Libya, March 12, 2012 /CNW/ - The Canada-Libya Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the establishment of an office to support trade between Canada and Libya.

The creation of the CLCC is in direct response to the need for strong cultural and economic ties between Canada andLibya. Sara Bronfman, a well-known philanthropist, has been appointed as the Chamber's inaugural President and Basit Igtet, development expert and Libyan national, is appointed as Chairman.

Igtet stated, "Canada is developing good relations with Libya and we feel that Canadian corporations, specifically engineering and infrastructure firms are uniquely positioned to establish trade between Libya and North Americas."Mr. Igtet further stated "Canadians have a long standing tradition of supporting trade initiatives that encourage social welfare and development." We are proud to support trade between Libya and Canada and feel that this Chamber will be a great success for both Libya and Canada.

Mr. Igtet is noted as President and co-founder of the Independent Libya Foundation (www.inlifo.eu) and also served as a Special Envoy for the Libyan people and their transitional government. Mr. Igtet was a significant force in Libya's international recognition and facilitated direct humanitarian support for the Libyan people during and after the revolution.

Canada recently completed a trade delegation to Libya where Trade Minister Fast led a coalition of Canadian firms wishing to develop ties with Libya. The Canada-Libya Chamber of Commerce is an NGO that is focused on the following mission statement:

LOCAL: to develop real entrepreneurs with ethical principles and encourage them to be real producers and individuals who add value to the community through being active in building the country. We must also raise the level of business to meet expectations of the international market in terms of quality and transparency and encourage healthy competition.

INTERNATIONAL: to ensure that international partners have the quality and the principles of business that we require and that they are willing to contribute to the building of a productive society.

The Canada-Libya chamber of commerce will focus on the development of the following areas:

1. Management
2. Business models
3. Participation and partnership
4. Control and observation

The initial CLCC directive board is comprised:

Basit Igtet- Libyan National, President of the Independent Libya Foundation

Sara Bronfman- Recognized philanthropist and development expert

Richard H. Griffiths- Canadian national, Diplomatic Advisor and international affairs expert

The Chamber of Commerce will have its initial base of operations in Ottawa, Canada and will soon be opening offices in Tripoli, Libya.

The newly established chamber will begin a membership reach out to invite suitable Canadian corporations to join through membership. In addition, a planned micro conference on Libya-Canada will be planned to support Chamber awareness and activities

About the CLCC
The Canada-Libya Chamber of Commerce (CLCC) was founded on February 17, 2012 (the anniversary of the Libyan revolution) to support and encourage Canadian businesses in Libya while promoting, developing and encouraging ethical business practices. The CLCC is currently based in Ottawa, Canada and will be opening offices in Tripoli,Libya in 2012.

CANADA-LIBYA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.canada-libyachamber.org

Dubai Chamber to launch Libya Strategic Investment Forum in May

Move is part of the expansion plans into the Libyan market

Seeks stronger trade ties and explores opportunities for Dubai businesses in the promising Libyan market

Forum will host parallel sessions on infrastructure, construction, tourism, hospitality, oil and gas, and finance

302 Libyan partnership companies currently operating in Dubai

Dubai, UAE: In order to explore the growth prospects offered by Libya's redevelopment process and as part of its efforts to enhance trade ties with the African country, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry has announced organizing of a major Libya Strategic Investment Forum to be held in Dubai on May 7.

The announcement came on the heels of a Dubai Chamber delegation's participation in the recent TEDx Tripoli conference held in the Libyan capital which saw a large turnout of business leaders, decision makers and entrepreneurs from the world over. The high level delegation was led by H.E. Abdul Rahman Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman, Dubai Chamber.

H.E. Al Ghurair stated that Libya is a promising destination for Dubai's business community as the country's redevelopment process offers excellent opportunities for Dubai Chamber members to use their expertise and benefit from the growth prospects offered by the country's trade, infrastructural, and financial services sectors as well as to increase their competitiveness in the Libyan market.

The Chairman of Dubai Chamber informed that the Libya Strategic Investment Forum will be attended by high profile government officials, dignitaries and business leaders from the UAE and Libya and will host parallel sessions on infrastructure and construction, tourism and hospitality, oil and gas, and finance and also a presentation on how to do business in Libya.

"As part of our efforts to explore new and lucrative markets for our members, Dubai Chamber has been closely monitoring the economic situation in Libya and has also been active in gathering the necessary information on the potential business in the Libyan market," added H.E. Al Ghurair.

He further stressed that Dubai Chamber has established strong relationship with the Libyan Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture and has learnt that the country has not changed its investment law and is giving priority to UAE businesses while also attracting them to get involved in the rebuilding process of Libya.

On their part, the Libyan officials expressed their desire to emulate the example of Dubai Chamber and to benefit from its experience of developing partnerships with strategic global chambers and their members, its liaison with world chambers bodies in implementing best business practices while also exploring new markets for its members.

They also showed their interest in adopting the successful examples of Dubai Chamberin honing the skills of its workforce, its work management ethics and best business policies which they said can contribute to improve the performance of Libyan Chamber during the country's transition period.

Last month, a Dubai Chamber team accompanied the UAE delegation headed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when the Libyan officials expressed their desire to establish strong economic ties with Dubai and to offer all facilities to the Emirate's investors in Libya.

Dubai Chamber is also extending its support and endorsement to the Libya Infrastructure & Rebuild Conference which will be held in June in Dubai. The event will provide a major showcase of various industry expertise reflecting the importance of the vital sectors to Libya's economy as well as the essential contacts necessary for the participating companies to secure a part in Libya's economic development programme.

Currently, there are 302 Libyan partnership firms registered with Dubai Chamber and operating in Dubai as the Emirate's non-oil trade with Libya in the first five months of 2011 stood at AED 1.3 billion while trade with the country valued at AED 7.5 billion in 2010 and AED 8.1 billion in 2009.

Source: Zawya (Press Release)