(ANSAmed) - ROME, JANUARY 10 - The main challenge to foster the
presence of Italian enterprises in Libya is ''first and foremost
physical and judicial security'', said Italy's foreign minister
Giulio Terzi during the Italy-Libya economic forum at the
Foreign Ministry.
''The businessman here,'' noted Terzi, ''have taken on risks,
and the certainty of getting back credit as well as the
protection of investments are as important as profitability.''
Many enterprises are willing to step up their presence in Libya,
but ''they are awaiting improvement in the general security
conditions, the reactivation of contracts, credit and war
damages payment and the starting of reconstruction activities.''
''The complementary nature of the Italian and Libyan
economies encourages us to identify new areas of
collaboration,'' Terzi added, noting for example the
infrastructure and SME sectors, in which ''Italian expertise is
recognised around the world.'' ''An initial positive signal,''
said the minister, ''is the Libyan proposal on so-called
historical credit,'' which will be discussed in the next joint
technical committee meeting, which ''we hope can take place
before January 30, when Prime Minister Zidan is scheduled to
visit Rome.'' (ANSAmed).
