Libya must be a safe and stable country for Italian companies to invest and operate there, economic development minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said on Friday, according to a statement.
"It remains essential that adequate security conditions exist for our companies and for their workers," the statement cited Giorgetti as telling Libya's foreign minister Najla al-Mangush during talks in Rome.
Managing migration remains "a key priority" for relations between Italy and Libya and also for the European Union, Giorgetti underlined.
"A stable Libya and the control of its borders will also help stem illegal immigration which remains a key priority for Italy at bilateral and European level," Giorgetti said.
During their "extended and cordial" talks, Giorgetti and Mangoush "looked at the main aspects of bilateral economic cooperation", according to the statement.
Italy is fully committed to supporting Libya's authorities, in full respect of their sovereignty, together with the international community, Giorgetti underlined.
Giorgetti praised the national reconciliation process underway in Libya after the new unified interim government took office in mid-March and said he hoped the institutional transition process leading to December elections would proceed "swiftly", the statement noted.
Italy views Libya as a privileged partner and intends to "consolidate and further extend" this partnership in a range of areas from a coastal highway project to the civil aviation and industrial sectors, Giorgetti said.
Mangoush agreed with Giorgetti that broad scope exists to expand economic and industrial cooperation between Libya and its "natural partner" Italy, inviting him to visit Tripoli "soon" the statement concluded.
Italy has extensive business interests in its former colony - especially in the energy sector - and has sought to play a major role in efforts to stabilise the war-ravaged country.
