Libya Build, the country’s largest building and construction materials trade fair, was held last week at the Tripoli International Fairground.

According to the organisers, some 18,775 visitors – a new record – passed through the doors during the four days of the event, which was the first since 2010. A total of 637 companies exhibited, with the biggest foreign presence coming from Italy, Turkey and France.

For the most part, exhibitors and visitors expressed a great deal of optimism about the future opportunities for businesses – both Libyan and foreign – in the years ahead.

The question on most people’s lips, however, was timing. With the majority of large state-led projects frozen as ministries and government funds are restructured and previous contracts reviewed, many companies are watching and waiting to see what happens. Some are operating with a skeleton staff, retaining a foothold in the market before committing more resources, while those dealing with the private-sector tend to be busier than those reliant on government clients.

The next few months promise to be a key test, with constituent assembly elections and the formation of a new government.