Keen to borrow on EU policies conducive to economic growth and competitiveness, the Libyan authorities and representatives of the private sector met and exchanged experience with top experts from the European Union on 8-9 December. Razak Grady, Director of the Libyan National Economic Development Board told the meeting that human capital development was a priority of government. Access to successful EU experience and know-how was important in the country’s drive for a more competitive economy, he said.

Discussions focused on four areas: market access, financial support for SMEs, innovation and entrepreneurial learning. The European Commission’s Simeon Chenev, reviewed the panorama of enterprise development lines associated with the Small Business Act for Europe – the EU’s policy framework to promote more and better performing small enterprises. ‘Small business is the primary driver of employment,’ Mr. Chenev told the meeting underlining that almost 67% of EU employment is accommodated by jobs in small businesses.

Addressing the meeting, the ETF’s Anthony Gribben introduced the Libyan partners to the key EU policy lines for entrepreneurship promotion, including the ETF’s policy metrics for lifelong entrepreneurial learning. Delegates expressed particular interest in the lifelong learning concept of entrepreneurship promotion with a clear understanding that non-formal learning was intrinsic to the entrepreneurship drive in Libya. ‘The importance of non-formal learning cannot be underestimated,’ Mr. Gribben assured the meeting, pointing to the importance of partnership between the national education system and operators promoting entrepreneurial learning outside the formal education system.

The meeting also heard from Christina Sand of the Swedish enterprise ministry. Ms Sand highlighted her country’s efforts to mainstream entrepreneurial learning through the national school curriculum while Dennis Vella of Malta Enterprise focused more on harder skills for better performing businesses. Mr. Vella advised delegates to embrace the opportunities of internationalising SMEs. ‘Up-skilling the workforce, adopting enhanced technologies and strategic networking will be critical to Libyan enterprises interested in breaking into international markets,’ said Mr. Vella.

The technical cooperation meeting was held in Tripoli on 8-9 December and was supported by the TAIEX – the European Commission’s knowledge -sharing facility.

The European Union and Libya are presently finalising a cooperation agreement with an estimated financial support package for the period 2011-2013 of €60m earmarked for priority reform areas including SME development.