:
(a) whether Libya has lifted ban on import of Indian tea and wants to intensify bilateral cooperation in the sectors of power, oil, gas and infrastructure, to push present volume of trade;
(b) if so, the details in this regard; and
(c) the progress made in this regard so far?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY( SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY )
( a ) to ( c ) : Import of commodities including tea from India was stopped by National Supply Corporation ( NASCO), the Libyan government procurement agency, over the past couple of years, following the non-resolution of trade disputes with a group of Indian companies. During the 8th session of the Indo- Libyan Joint commission ( ILJC) meeting in New Delhi on 9-11 October, 2002, the Libyan side informed that NASCO does not impose ban on registering the Indian companies any more and a number of Indian companies have been already registered. The Libyan side also informed that NASCO was willing to register those companies applying for registration according to the conditions and regulations in force. The companies duly registered shall have rights to participate in bidding for various commodities, including tea and to win the contracts in case their offer was competitive in terms of quality and price. This in effect, amounts to NASCO lifting the informal ban on imports of items from Indian parties.
During the ILJC meeting, both sides inter alia agreed on promoting bilateral cooperation in areas like hydrocarbons, power, infrastructure ( including railways, roads and ports, building material industry ) etc and identified specific measures for cooperation in these sectors like setting up of joint ventures, technical collaboration, cooperation in training in the oil and gas industry etc. Necessary follow-up action is taken by both sides for implementing these decisions.