The management of Libya’s Sirte Free Zone has held a series of meetings over two days with a high-level delegation from China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), one of China’s leading state-owned firms in maritime and land infrastructure. The discussions focused on exploring cooperation opportunities in several strategic development projects within the free zone.
Dr Mahmoud Al-Farjani, Chairman and General Manager of the Sirte Free Zone Authority, chaired the meetings. He stressed the importance of international partnerships, particularly with major companies like CHEC, to support the third phase of Sirte Port’s development and to benefit from Chinese expertise in deepwater berth construction and port operations.
The meetings, held on 13 and 14 June 2025, were attended by several directors from the free zone and the National Development Authority. The CHEC delegation was led by Regional Director Engineer Shi Qi Hui.
In his opening remarks, Al-Farjani welcomed the delegation and expressed the zone’s ambition to establish a long-term partnership with China and CHEC, especially in port operations and development, solar farm construction south of Sirte, and the proposal for a medium-sized airport in the zone’s hinterland.
CHEC’s regional director presented an overview of the company, which operates over 80 branches worldwide and is among the largest contractors in maritime infrastructure, with projects across Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, and Cameroon.
The Sirte Free Zone team gave detailed presentations on the zone’s facilities, including port operations, storage areas, tourism infrastructure, grain silos, and the strategic trade route linking Sirte to Al-Wigh via Sabha and Libya’s southern border with Africa.
Both sides discussed potential cooperation in port equipment supply, including cranes and marine tugs, as well as investment opportunities for Chinese firms in roads, railways, airports, and sustainable agricultural projects powered by solar energy.
The meetings concluded with a mutual agreement to continue technical consultations in preparation for future partnership agreements.
