Some 25 Tunisian companies operating in various sectors of the food industry are taking part in the Libya Food Expo held from March 13 to 16, in Tripoli, Libya.

This exhibition, in which about 120 companies representing several countries such as Turkey, Libya and France are also taking part, is a “real opportunity to promote exports of Tunisia’s seafood products”, said the representative of the inter-professional grouping of fishery products in the governorate of Sfax, Ali Ben Atit Allah.

Libya is the first importer of Tunisia’s canned seafood products.

The fishing sector contributes to 1.1% of the national Gross Domestic Product and represents 17% of Tunisian agricultural exports. It contributes to the creation of 108 thousand jobs.

Hedhi Zghal, a representative of a Tunisian company specialised in the refining and packaging of vegetable oil said “Libya Food” offers the opportunity for his company to strengthen its position on the Libyan market and on other African and Euro-Mediterranean markets.

The development of the partnership with Libya is likely to “strengthen the immunity of the Tunisian economy” and thus contribute to the creation of employment and wealth, he said.

It is imperative today to increase the participation of Tunisian companies in Libyan trade fairs, said Ridha Fourati, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sfax, in a statement to TAP.

In this regard, he mentioned the efforts currently made to organize joint sectoral meetings between Libyan and Tunisian professionals, adding that a Tunisian delegation representing the oil sector will be on a mission in May in Tripoli and Benghazi to establish bilateral partnerships.

According to him, the chamber also intends to hold a meeting dedicated to the fishing sector which is of particular importance for both countries, stressing that the Libyan coasts are spread over 3000 km and are very rich in fish resources.

Source: Tap News Agency