Providing a service to help companies that develop business in Libya and throughout the Muslim world and Eastern Europe.

Executive and Council Members

Honorary Patrons:                 The British Ambassador, The Libyan Ambassador
Chairman:                               Rt. Hon. Lord Trefgarne PC
Deputy Chairmen:                  Robert Gibbons, Oliver Miles CMG
Director General:                   Sir Richard Dalton KCMG
Deputy Director General:      John Parr

Honorary Counsel:                 Tony Baldry MP, Joint Head of Chambers at 1 Essex Court and

                                                Dr Anis M Al Qasem.  Mr Baldry is also Chairman of the Commons Select

                                                Committee for International Development.

LBBC Aims

A better relationship. The Libyan British Business Council fosters high-level links between the public and private sectors in both countries. It supports commercial activity between the respective business communities, working with the British and Libyan governments, and in Libya with the Libyan Business Council and the British Business Group. It also identifies potential joint venture partners and acts as a reference point for matters of mutual concern. It publishes a regular bulletin, keeping members up to date with the latest commercial and economic developments affecting the two countries.

The Council enjoys the support of the Libyan and British governments. Its establishment in 2004 followed a period when the full potential of economic relations between the UK and Libya had not been realised. British companies have a long and honourable history of trade with Libya that has been of mutual benefit. The Council seeks to build on the successes of the past and to identify new opportunities for the future for both British and Libyan organisations. The Council promotes contacts between Britain and Libya designed to increase the volume of business in an era marked by mutual respect and co-operation.

LBBC Objectives

Practical progress. The Council exchanges information and encourages bilateral discussion that addresses the following areas:

1. Initiatives that the governments of Libya and the United Kingdom might take to promote mutual

    business and investment growth, bringing to bear EU and other multinational funds as appropriate.

2. Attracting Libyan and UK business to opportunities for co-operation in Libya and the UK, including

    opportunities that could be a catalyst for Libyan private sector growth.

3. The identification of Libyan and UK companies and organisations that might work together and, as

    appropriate, benefit from government endorsement and support.

4. Factors that affect the growth of private sector business, including disincentives to trade and

    investment and regulatory obstacles that can hamper job creation and investment growth.

5. Bringing to the attention of governments the rare but particularly difficult business disputes that need

    settlement to maintain a favourable business climate and to minimise bilateral difficulties.

LBBC Membership

For full details on Council or Corporate Membership, or if you would like further information, please telephone us - without obligation - on 020 7152 4051, and ask for John Parr, Deputy Director General.

LBBC Secretariat
50 Broadway

St James’s Park

Westminster

London

SW1H 0RG

Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7152 4051

Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7152 4001

Email: secretariat@lbbc.org.uk

Doing Business In Libya

A good source of guidance on developments in the politics, economy and business scene in Libya is the 60 page  "Annual Business Assessment" published by Middle East Consultants (MEC).

For further information about the Libyan Business Council Please Click Here

Other useful links:-

BBC Libya Profile

British Council Libya

British Embassy - Tripoli

Central Bank of Libya

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Libyan Economic Development Board (LEDB)

Click here for the Phoenicia Group website

Click here to view an advert for the Corinthia Hotel

Almost all visitors to Libya require a visa, if going in on business.

The procedure is as follows:-

1. Complete the questionnaire and return to Mercian
2. E-mail Mercian a scanned copy of your passport
3. Provide a company letter stating your position in the company, the purpose and date of visiting Libya
4. Mercian will forward the information to the appropriate authority in Libya for the granting of an invitation
5. On receipt of the invitation, at that stage we will require your passport, the completed visa application form (supplied by Mercian) and four photographs
6. Our messenger then takes all the documentation to the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, the Libyan People's Bureau in London to obtain your visa which will be granted once the Embassy receive a copy of the authorisation from Tripoli

However, this may vary in some detail depending on the nationality of the applicant and the cost will certainly vary.  Full details cane be provided upon request.

Visa On Arrival

If time is too short or under certain circumstances a visa on arrival is appropriate the visa application will be processed with the immigration authorities:

1. A letter is sent by the visa authorities to the airport authorities
2. A copy sent by the immigration to Civil Aviation Bureau who will notify the airline in writing that an entry visa has been issued and asking for the airline to give permission for the passenger to board the flight in the UK to collect their visa in Tripoli

MERCIAN HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN OBTAINING VISAS FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS.  IN FACT, WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW COMPANIES THAT ARE.  HOWEVER, WE DO NEED TO DO A COMPLETE RESERVATION INTO LIBYA FOR ANY PERSON WHOSE BUSINESS VISA WE ARE APPLYING FOR.

Petrolin Libya and Petrolin UK Ltd have a wide and specialised knowledge of all aspects of industry, its activities range from the introduction of international exploration companies, including oil concession negotiations through to the pro active promotion of companies wishing to sell their product or services in Libya.

In support of their clients or as a stand alone service Petrolin offer the following services:

1. Fully serviced offices in Tripoli equipped with the latest IT
   communications systems
2. Arrange entry visas an d desert passes (where required)
3. Translation services
4. Personal transportation including chauffer driven cars
5. Company registration in Libya if appropriate
6. Identification of business opportunities within the Libyan industrial sectors
7. Travel and hotel arrangements in conjunction with Mercian Travel

For further information regarding the activities of Petrolin please contact their Managing Director, Mr Hakim Burshan who will be pleased to meet with you either in the United Kingdom or Tripoli, whichever is mutually convenient to both parties.

Mr Hakim has an extensive background in the oil and gas industry having studied at the University of Texas where he obtained an MBA in Business and Economics and then in the University of Libya where he gained a BA in Philosophy and Psychology and has worked all his life in the oil and gas industry starting with the Esso standard of Libya moving onto Occidental of Libya where he became vice president working very closely with the very famous oil tycoon Dr Armand Hammer.

Hakim Burshan has worked on many joint ventures, consultancy work on international business development giving advice to such companies as Commonwealth oil refining (Corco), Societa Italiana Resine S.P.A., an independent Italian oil company which used to buy and lift Libyan crude and since 1969 provided a unique service covering the entire spectrum from the planning of complex geophysical surveys through to geological and geophysical interpretation and data interpretation and reservoir engineering, followed in the year 2000 until the present day when he became Managing Director of Petrolin UK Energy offering a unique service to those who wish to be successful in doing business in Libya.