The Turkish consulate in Benghazi is set to open in its new headquarters by mid-2025, marking a significant step in strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between Libya and Turkey.
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Committee of the Libyan House of Representatives, Yousef Al-Agouri, met with Turkish Consul Serkan Karmanlıoğlu in Benghazi to discuss bilateral relations. Al-Agouri emphasised the importance of Turkish-Libyan cooperation, noting that Turkey plays a crucial role on the international stage.
He highlighted that the Libyan Parliament has established a Libyan-Turkish Parliamentary Friendship Committee, chaired by MP Saleheen Abdelnabi. He urged the Turkish side to activate its counterpart committee in the Turkish Grand National Assembly to enhance parliamentary cooperation at a political level.
On the economic front, Al-Agouri reaffirmed Libya’s invitation for Turkish companies to resume operations and complete ongoing projects in the country. He also expressed gratitude for Turkey’s humanitarian aid during Storm Daniel.
For his part, Consul Karmanlıoğlu reaffirmed Turkey’s strong support for Libya’s unity and stability, expressing hope for Libya to become a strong and prosperous nation. He confirmed that once the consulate is fully operational, it will issue visas directly from Benghazi to facilitate travel for Libyan citizens. He also called for reciprocal facilitation of Libyan visa applications to Turkey.
Additionally, he welcomed the resumption of Turkish Airlines’ direct flights to and from Benghazi after years of suspension, signalling deeper economic, commercial, political, and security engagement between the two nations.
In the education sector, the consul announced that a delegation from Turkish universities recently visited Benghazi University to offer scholarships for Libyan students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides agreed to continue coordination on mutual interests, with Al-Aqouri extending an invitation to Turkish business leaders to explore investment opportunities in Libya.
