Foreign Minister Michael Frendo has just returned from a two-day official visit to Libya where, among other activities, he officially opened the office of the Malta-Libya Chamber of Commerce in Tripoli.

Addressing students who are following courses at the Academy for Graduate Studies in Tripoli, Dr Frendo spoke about future relations between Malta and Libya.

He also held meetings with Economics, Commerce and Investment Minister Ali Abdelaziz Saleh El Eissawi, Infrastructure and Housing Minister Abu Zeid Dorda, Foreign Affairs Minister Abdul Rahman Shalgam and vice-minister El Obeidi.

During the meetings, the Maltese and Libyan delegations spoke about the opportunities for Maltese entrepreneurs who would like to invest in Libya, particularly in the sectors of housing and infrastructure. Minister Dorda said that the Libyan government was working with the private sector to address the needs of these sectors in the country.

Minister Shalgam and Dr Frendo agreed to work together to strengthen the 5+5 group. They expressed the urgent need for ministers from the 10 southern European and north African member states to hold meetings to address the dangers of terrorism and the challenges of irregular migration.

The last meeting of the Foreign Ministers from the group was held in Malta in 2005.

During his visit to the Libyan capital, Minister Frendo also visited the premises of Medilink Clinic, a Maltese investment in medical services, and expressed the wish to have a Maltese cultural centre in the Old Medina in Tripoli.

Maltese ambassador to Libya Joe Cassar, permanent secretary in the Foreign Affairs Ministry Cecilia Attard Pirotta and head of secretariat Joseph Mifsud accompanied Dr Frendo, while the Libyan ambassador to Malta Saad El-Shlimani also attended the meetings.