Turkish delegation visits Libya to discuss long-term partnerships

Libyan officials hosted a Turkish delegation of business leaders and industrialists in Tripoli to discuss long-term investment partnerships, according to the Libya Review on January 12th and the Libya Observer on January 13th.

Libya’s Minister of Economy and Trade, Mohamed Al-Hwaij met with the Turkish delegation led by Hakan Birkan, President of the Anatolian Industrialists and Businessmen Association (ANASIAD). Al-Hwaij called for a shift from a trade-based partnership to a long-term one and described Turkey as “a strategic partner for Libya”.

The meeting focused on key sectors, such as agriculture, industry, and urban development. Al-Hwaij said the Government of National Unity aims to expand joint agricultural projects, particularly in grain and fruit production, to meet domestic demand and export surpluses to African markets.

The Turkish delegation shared Turkey’s experience in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and urban development. The group included Mustafa Işık, the mayor of Gürsu in the northwestern city of Bursa, and outlined Gürsu Municipality’s investments and projects, particularly in agriculture.

The representatives visited Libya’s Agricultural Research Institute to discuss potential cooperation on agricultural projects and research, according to a statement published on Gürsu Municipality’s Facebook page.

The delegation expressed the interest of Turkish companies in establishing sustainable agricultural partnerships with their Libyan counterparts.

Al-Hwaij urged “twinning agreements” between Libyan and Turkish municipalities to help facilitate the exchange of technical data, administrative expertise, and best practices in local economic management.

The General Authority for Investment, the Commercial Registry, and the General Authority for Exhibitions attended the meeting. Libyan and Turkish representatives agreed on the importance of organising specialised conferences, exhibitions, workshops, and direct bilateral meetings between investors from both countries.

Al-Hwaij said the government aims to attract Turkish companies by offering incentives under Libya’s Investment Law No. 9.

Turkey’s exports to Libya fell to $2.5 billion after instability hit the North African country in 2014, and remained around that level for the past decade, with total trade now at $4 billion, according to the Anadolu Agency.

Libya’s long-running instability is caused by political division, with the country split between rival authorities, the House of Representatives in the east and the UN-recognised Government of National Unity in Tripoli.

Turkey seeks to strengthen its role in Libya’s post-conflict economic reconstruction with a focus on urban planning and high-tech agricultural marketing.

Saddam Haftar, deputy Commander-in-Chief of the eastern Libyan National Army (LNA), visited Turkey three times in 2025. In April 2025, he met with Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler in Ankara, a meeting Güler described as “a new and significant strategic step” toward the goal of establishing a “unified and single Libya”, according to the Anadolu Agency. Haftar conducted another visit in November to enhance bilateral military cooperation with Turkey.

However, in December 2025, Libya’s eastern-based parliament formally rejected a long-disputed maritime agreement with Turkey, reflecting divisions between rival authorities in Libya.

The same month, Turkey sought parliamentary approval to extend its military presence in Libya for another two years, saying continued involvement was critical to prevent renewed conflict and protect regional stability.

Libya Review, Libya Observer, Anadolu Agency, Maghrebi.org