British business delegation visits Libya

A large British business delegation started on Sunday a visit to Libya to explore economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, reports the Panafrican news agency PANA.

The delegation of more than 50 heads of commercial and oil companies as well as financial and banking institutions, is led by John Hill, president of the British commission of trade with Middle East countries.

Hill said he was pleased to be in Libya at the head of such important British firms bent on exploring possibility of reviving bilateral trade.

Jeremy Henry, a former minister and chairman of the board of directors of the International Missions company, expressed confidence that the visit would be crowned with success.

"We are in the process of building relations with this beautiful country and our visit should help strengthen solid economic links," he added.

Libyan trade circles deem the visit as a sign of the full resumption of relations between London and Tripoli, which were broken in 1984.

Meanwhile, the United Nations sanctions against Libya were suspended after Tripoli had handed over two of its citizens suspected to have been involved in the Lockerbie affair to stand trial.

According to economic and trade observers, the resumption of relations between the two countries would turn Libya into the third business partner in the Middle East.