The lifting of sanctions and liberalisation of trade in Libya has prompted several food exporters from the UAE to introduce their goods to Libyan taste buds.
So far five food companies have signed up to the UAE in Libya Exhibition which aims to bring together UAE firms with potential customers in Libya.
Sameer Chaturvedi, general manager of spice distributor Al Safrad Foodstuff LLC believes that trade between Libya and the UAE is set to increase exponentially. He hopes to capitalise on this by using the UAE in Libya Exhibition in Tripoli to meet potential new customers and business partners.
He said: “Previously restrictions have made it very difficult for firms to trade with Libya, but with the lifting of sanctions we believe that this will change.
“We will be taking advantage of the exhibition to develop a presence in Libya at this early stage rather than fighting competition when the full potential of the Libyan economy has been realised.
“When a country opens up to trade with the rest of the world in the way that Libya is now doing there is often a boom in consumer goods such as specialised food items, as the people rush to try things that haven’t always been available to them.”
The firm will be using the exhibition to launch a range of spices packaged in plastic sachets which can be sold in smaller quantities and at a cheaper price than traditional jars.
The UAE in Libya exhibition will take place in Tripoli between 27-30 November. Organised by Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority and Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, it will reinforce business links between the two countries.
