British Business Delegation Visiting Libya

October 4, 1999

TRIPOLI, Libya (PANA) - A big British business delegation is currently
touring Libya to examine ways of enhancing economic
and trade co-operation between the two countries.

The delegation of more than 50 heads of commercial and oil companies as
well as financial and banking institutions, is being led by
John Hill, president of the British commission of trade with Middle East
countries.

The delegation arrived in Tripoli Sunday evening

Hill said he was pleased to be in Libya at the head of such important
British firms bent on exploring possibilities of reviving
bilateral trade.

Jeremy Henry, a former minister and chairman of the board of directors
of the International Missions company, expressed
confidence the visit would be crowned with success.

"We are in the process of building relations with this beautiful country
and our visit should help in strengthening solid economic
links," he added.

Libya trade circles see the visit as a sign of the full resumption of
relations between London and Tripoli, which were ruptured in
1984 following the shooting to death of a British policewoman in front
of the Libyan embassy in London.

The relations were restored in July after Libya agreed to pay
compensation to the woman's family.

Three months before that, the sanctions imposed by the United Nations
against Libya were suspended after Tripoli had handed
over two of its citizens suspected to have been involved in the
Lockerbie affair to stand trial.

According to economic and trade observers, the resumption of relations
between the two countries would turn Libya into the third
business partner in the Middle East.

Currently, it ranks the 12th business partner.

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