UK MEA trade delegation in Tripoli led by British Minister Kenneth Clarke

The mission had been scheduled for September but was postponed due to the Benghazi attack against the US consulate with the death of the American ambassador Chris Stevens.

Kenneth Clarke has held a number of high profile cabinet posts during hislong career andis now minister without portfolio  and one of his roles is to encourage trade promotion,Libya is one of the UK's target countries.
His presence together the MEA visit is seen as fitting into an increased UK business focus on Libya in the wake of the new Ali Zeidan government taking office. It is the second UK trade mission in three weeks and the Foreign Office Minister responsible for Middle East and North Africa Affairs, Alistair Birt, is expected in a few days’ time.
 
He emphasised that UK prime Minister David Cameron had an “obvious” interest in Libya’s future because of his decision last year, along with that of France, to take action last year and prevent the Qaddafi regime from killing Libyan people. “We helped avert a humanitarian catastrophe”, he stated.
 
British Ambassador Michael Aron added that the UK “feels strongly” about the new Libya, he said. It was a “key priority for the British government and this was “an excellent time” for British companies to come to the country to talk to minister and ministries about the country’s development.