The Tunisian Ministry of Transport said that Tunisian and Libyan officials from the shipping and ports sector met in Tunis. They held discussions, during which the agreed on a number of measures, including opening a maritime shipping line between the two countries.
The ministry indicated that these measures were agreed upon in meetings chaired by the Tunisian and Libyan ministers of transport in November. This is in order to remove obstacles that prevent maritime linkages between the two countries.
The Tunisian Ministry of Transport pointed out that this step comes to strengthen the link between Tunisia and Libya, and to diversify the means of transit for travellers and economic actors from both sides.
Last week, Tunisia’s Minister of Transportation, Mohamed Chahoubi, called on the Tunisian Ambassador to Libya, Al-Asaad Al-Ajili, to request Tunisair send an audit team to study the resumption of flights to Sebha, in southern Libya.
Chahoubi also demanded that cruises be opened from the Port La Goulette in Tunis city, instead of the port of Gerges, due to the desire of travellers to head towards the capital directly.
The two sides agreed to form a joint committee, to solve the problems facing Libyan citizens in entering Tunisian territory. Especially those with issues related to similar names.
Al-Ajili, confirmed that nearly 80% of cases of similar names have been removed from the Tunisian system.
Earlier, the Director General of Tunisian Customs, Najat Al-Jawadi said that the joint commercial crossing between Libya and Tunisia which opened in 2021 was to “ensure the smooth movement of goods.”
“The sessions between the Libyan and Tunisian customs began in July. The meetings continued, the last of which was in November, and are considered activation of the joint agreements previously signed between the two countries. Finally, we signed the historic agreement to speed up procedures for travellers from both sides, opening five new gates for travellers, a sixth for intra-trade, and a seventh for ambulances and diplomatic delegations,” Al-Jawadi added.
“We solved all the problems, such as the increasing pressure on the crossing during the holidays, and others. In light of a positive and historical consensual atmosphere,” she noted.
Al-Jawadi pointed out that she is “counting on lifting obstacles and overcoming the work of the customs offices, in order to achieve flexibility in dealings, and achieve smoothness on the ground.”
She confirmed that joint training sessions will begin between members of both customs offices in the next two weeks, in the Tunisian city of Djerba.
