ROMA (ITALPRESS) – Not only a free zone, but a link bridge between Africa and Europe. This is the ambitious goal of the authorities that manage the Measured free zone in Libya. An opportunity for all Italian companies, according to what has been reiterated today at the presentation event “Misured Free Zone: the door of Africa for Italian companies”, organized in Rome in the headquarters of Unioncamere by the Italian-Libyan Chamber of Commerce and Confindustria Assafrica & Mediterraneo, in collaboration with the Italian embassy in Tripoli, Unioncamere and the International Propeller Club – Port of Rome. The initiative is part of the promotion of opportunities for Italian companies in the Libyan market and reflects interest not only for Libya, but for the entire African continent, by Italy. “In the last four years, the intention of putting Africa into the centre of Italian interests has been demonstrated,” said Marco Scurria, president of the parliamentary group Amici della Libya, at the beginning of the work.
“I am here to tell Italian companies that this possible collaboration, which can be born with Libyan companies, is a path in which Italian institutions are perfectly aligned,” added Scurria, underlining the importance of the Italian System to support companies in their projects abroad. An importance also highlighted by the Italian ambassador in Tripoli, Gianluca Alberini. “The Italian System is present in Tripoli and we are able to assist companies that are interested,” said the diplomat speaking with the press in the margin of the work. “Libya can be the door of Italy to Africa, as Italy is the door of Europe to Libya,” said Alberini, recalling the need to end the current political crisis and complete reunification to allow the country to fully express its potential.
From the economic point of view, Libya is today “the most natural market for our Pmi”, according to Nicola Colicchi, president of the Italian-Libyan Chamber of Commerce, interviewed by the Italpress agency. Looking longer, according to Colicchi, “means looking at the African market“, and in this perspective today’s day offered the opportunity to “organize a strong activity, with a very strong Italian presence, in what is the most promising hub”. Measured represents a particularly important hub in the maritime traffic of the central Mediterranean and can constitute an operating hub towards the Libyan market and, more generally, towards Africa and the Middle East.
The Measured Free Zone, in this context, “is certainly a new opportunity for Italian companies” according to Patrizia Mauro, general manager of Confindustria Assafrica & Mediterraneo. “The Measured Free Zone is a new opportunity: a hub that can be consolidated as a logistic base in the fields of oil and gas, agri-food, infrastructure, construction, but also training and health. We are investing a lot like Confindustria Assafrica & Mediterraneo in Libya; it has always been a strategic partner for us,” he said.
The Measured Free Zone currently intercepts about 60% of the volume of non-oil trade in the country and has solid infrastructure, but also offers investors incentives, advantages and exemptions, including exemption from customs duties, taxes and charges on imports and exports. However, the goal is not “to limit itself” to be a “free zone”, according to the director of the structure, Ayman Hamida Al-Drouish. “The Measured Free Zone is in a strategic place not only for the Libyan market but also for African and Mediterranean ones. The concept exceeds that of the free zone, we want to be a link between Europe and Africa“, said Al-Drouish.
The day is also served to host networking meetings and to sign two agreement protocols, one between the Measured Free Zone and the Italian-Libyan Chamber of Commerce, and the other between the Free Zone and Confindustria Assafrica & Mediterraneo. Both agreements see a three-year term, which can be renewed automatically, and aim to promote the Measured free zone as an increasingly attractive destination for Italian investments.
– photo lcr/Italpress –
(ITALPRESS).
