Libya is looking to US millers to step into its domestic market to make good a shortfall of more than 900,000 tonnes of flour, a minister said on Friday.
"The Libyan domestic market needs now total 1.0 million tonnes of wheat flour. The national milling capacity does not exceed 200-300 tonnes," said Economy and Trade Minister Tayeb Safi Tayeb.
"It is time for the American companies to enter the Libyan market in the form of investment to expand milling capacity or by direct flour sales to the market," he told reporters.
"The issue is an important one for us here," he said.
Tayeb expects Libya and US to increase co-operation in a wide range of fields including air transport and education since Tripoli and Washington restored full diplomatic ties this week after decades of confrontation, embargo and ostracism.
He said Libya is seeking US technology and management knowledge to build some 20 new airports and ports as it plans to lure 10 million tourists in the next 10 years from less than a million currently.
"The American companies are great and have experience in the fields of harbours. We are welcoming them in the forms of direct investment or in the form of direct tenders. So the American companies are to be invited in these fields," he added.
He gave no further details about the timing and costs of the planned projects.