Libyan Deputy Prime Minister, Abdulsalam Al-Mahdi Al-Qadi, has called on Brazilian companies to return to Libya and complete projects interrupted by the revolution.
During meetings in Sao Paulo with the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Industries of the State of Sao Paulo, he said that to rebuild and expand the economy, Libya needed Brazil as a major trade partner.
Qadi told reporters:
“I was invited to visit several countries, but I only accepted the Brazilian invitation, due to the country’s strength ... We greatly count on the Brazilian presence in the Libyan reconstruction process and the Arab Brazilian Chamber may play an important part in generating closer ties between the countries and their companies, and may simplify contacts.”
During his visit, Qadi met representatives of Brazilian construction companies that left Libya during the revolution – Odebrecht, Andrade Gutierrez, and Queiroz Galvão. He also met with state oil company Petrobras, which also left the country, and with a number of other firms including machinery maker Weg, abattoir JBS and construction company OAS.
As a result of the Sao Paulo visit, the head at the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Michel Alaby, indicated that it would organise a visit to Libya later this year. A delegation to look into Brazilian help in developing the Libyan healthcare sector was also suggested.
It was also reported that Qadi said Libya supported the candidacy of the Brazilian diplomat Roberto Carvalho de Azevêdo as Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
According to the Brazilian Ambassador to Libya, Afonso Carbonar, Libya bought almost $450 million in products from Brazil in 2012, of which 85 percent was meat and chicken.
(Sources: Libya Herald, ANBA, Office of the Prime Minister)
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