On Thursday, Libya’s Minister of Transport in the Government of National Unity (GNU) Mohamed Shahoubi invited Tunisian companies to be part of Libya’s infrastructure development, saying that “Libya’s door will remain open for entrepreneurs and investors from the neighbouring country.”
These remarks came on the sidelines of a meeting with the Tunisian Federation of Industry, Trade, and Handicrafts delegation, headed by Samir Majoul in Tripoli.
The meeting was attended by the Head of the General Federation of Libyan Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Mohamed Al-Raid, and the Tunisian Ambassador to Libya, Asaad Al-Ajili.
Shahoubi asserted Libya’s desire for “real economic integration with Tunisia, and to address all obstacles to bilateral cooperation.” He praised the experience of Tunisian institutions in the field of roads, construction, and public works.
The two sides reviewed Libya’s plan for developing infrastructure and roads, which fall within the competence of the Ministry of Transport. Shahoubi stressed the importance of intensifying and improving air, sea, and land transport services.
Majoul said he “sees genuine opportunities for joint action between Tunisia and Libya, especially in Africa. The private sector on both sides are eager to take advantage of these opportunities, and contribute to improving the infrastructure in the two countries, with expertise and qualified human resources.”
The participants confirmed their keenness to contribute to the various projects in Libya, and called for providing favourable investment and business opportunities to achieve the desired goals.
In November, Tunisian businessmen confirmed their desire to return to work in Libya, and invest in the country’s oil and gas sector. This came in a meeting with the Libyan Minister of Oil and Gas, Mohamed Aoun in Tripoli.
Notably, Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Muammer Gaddafi in 2011. The county has for years been split between rival administrations, each backed by rogue militias and foreign governments.
The current stalemate grew out of the failure to hold elections in December, and the refusal of Prime Minister Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba, who is leading the transitional government, to step down. In response, the country’s eastern-based Parliament appointed a rival Prime Minister, Fathi Bashagha, who has for months sought to install his government in Tripoli.