INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Project Libya: Exhibition to Promote Infrastructure And

Published: Sun 1 Oct 2006 01:43 PM
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Brooke F Adams 10/02/2006 02:24:32 PM From DB/Inbox: Brooke F Adams
Cable
Text:
UNCLAS TRIPOLI 00557
SIPDIS
CXCAIRO:
ACTION: CONS
INFO: ECON IPS DCM
DISSEMINATION: CONS
CHARGE: PROG
VZCZCCRO549
RR RUEHEG
DE RUEHTRO #0557 2741343
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 011343Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1278
INFO RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 0298
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 0563
RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS 0315
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0432
RUEHVT/AMEMBASSY VALLETTA 0113
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 1447
UNCLAS TRIPOLI 000557
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/MAG
COMMERCE FOR NATE MASON
DOE FOR GINA ERICKSON AND GEORGE PERSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CMGT ECON EIND EINV ENRG EPET ETRD LY
SUBJECT: PROJECT LIBYA: EXHIBITION TO PROMOTE INFRASTRUCTURE AND
ENERGY DEVELOPMENT
1. The 4-7 December Project Libya exhibition is underway
following a well-attended press launch on September 17.
Organizers Montgomery Libya and Sahara Expo Libya presided over
a packed house of reporters, businessmen and local embassy staff
at the Corinthia Hotel. Jeremy Sale, Montgomery Libya's Project
Director for Libya, took the lead at the press conference, and
reviewed both the expected participants in the project, and its
politically-connected GOL backing. Hotel arrangements and visa
support for attendees will be coordinated by Mr. Saleh Ben-Saleh
of the Libya Businessman's Council. The Wa'atassemo Charity
Society's Abdul Nasser Nageh, Chairman of the Conferences
Committee also offered his assistance in addressing whatever
issues arise. He told P/E Chief that Ali Aujali of the Libyan
People's Bureau (Embassy) in Washington agreed to expedite visa
requests, although there would be a 100 Libyan dinar surcharge
for any "airport" visas stamped in passports at Tripoli
International Airport. He described a multi-step process,
whereby exhibition participants would send an application via a
designated U.S. travel agent to the Libyan Businessmen's
Council. Then the Business Council will coordinate with the
Wa'atessemo Society to issue letters of support to the General
People's Committee for Foreign Liaison and International
Relations Consular Department and Americas Department, as well
as the Immigration Department. After the Immigration Department
clears all the applications and issues approval numbers, the
Libyan Businessmen's Council will convey that information to the
designated U.S. travel agent, who will in turn contact the
exhibition participant and coordinate submission of all the
required paperwork to the Libyan People's Bureau. He
acknowledged that there were many potential areas for a
breakdown in communication and visa delays.
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Lineup of GOL Committees Sponsoring the Exhibition
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2. Project Libya will be hosted under the patronage of Dr.
Aisha Muammar al-Qaddafi and her Wa'atassemo Foundation, and
consist of two distinct exhibitions: Infrastructure Libya and
Energy Libya (or the International Exhibition and Forum for
Libya's Infrastructure and Economic Development and the Libyan
International Oil, Gas, Power and Renewable Energy Exhibition
and Forum), both to be held at the Tripoli International
Fairground. The exhibition will be paired with a running series
of parallel seminars covering a broad range of infrastructure
and energy issues, and the organizers are still soliciting
presenters for an anticipated forty-eight separate fora. The
exhibitions boast a panoply of cooperating GOL entities,
including the General People's Committee for Planning, General
Board of Infrastructure and Urban Development, Inspector General
of Housing and Utilities, General People's Committee for
Industry, Electricity and Mines, National Oil Corporation (NOC)
and General Electric Company of Libya (along with a dozens of
supporting organizations). A representative for the NOC
provided words of support at the event, noting Libya's plans to
increase oil production and the massive foreign investment that
endeavor will require.
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~and Great Expectations For The International Crowd
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3. Montgomery Libya highlighted the anticipated establishment
of pavilions by the US, UK, Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain,
Singapore, Canada, France, Malta, Turkey and South Korea.
Pol/Econ Chief addressed the audience to emphasize the Commerce
Department's certification of Project Libya and and U.S.
interest in expanding the bilateral economic and commercial
relationship. Major corporations Chevron, Baker Hughes, Booz
Allen Hamilton, Conoco Phillips, Halliburton, Marathon and
Occidental were highlighted as key exhibitors and sponsors of
the event.
4. The exhibition organizers request that the U.S. government
consider providing speakers for the program, although at this
time they do not have a list of planned seminars or topics. At
this point, they are trying to encourage people to attend the
event, and will plan workshops or speakers later. Nageh said
that "networking" was the primary motivation for the event and
that his goal was to get "buzz" by adding high-profile names to
the promotional materials.
5. Looking ahead, next year's Project Libya has been booked at
the Tripoli International Fairground from 3-6 December 2007.
BERRY
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