AA / Tripoli / Mohammed Ertima
Libyan Minister of Economy and Trade Muhammad Al-Hawij highlighted his country’s ambition to make Türkiye a key strategic partner.
He said cooperation should extend to the energy, trade, services and many other sectors.
These remarks were made during an interview with Anadolu on the sidelines of the Libya Energy Conference, held in Tripoli on Saturday and Sunday.
“Türkiye is our main trading partner, and we now see it as a strategic partner for our economic development, especially in infrastructure, the oil industry, services and the medical sector,” Al-Hawij said.
He added: “Türkiye is a priority for us in terms of a long-term strategic partnership. Our relations go back thousands of years, which is why we give it top priority.
We look forward to Türkiye’s participation in oil exploration and industry activities, including refineries, petrochemicals and oil services.”
On Sunday, Ahmad Türkoglu, general director of the Turkish national oil company “TPAO”, announced his company’s intention to invest in the energy sector in Libya.
Minister Al-Hawija continued: “We will take concrete steps, as Libya is experiencing a rapid transition towards economic growth and sustainable development. We hope that the growth rate will be high compared to other Mediterranean countries.”
Regarding bilateral agreements, he clarified: “We have met with the Turkish Minister of Commerce recently, and we are currently reviewing all previous memorandums of understanding and agreements to renew them and reach a free trade agreement, in order to stimulate investments in the months to come.”
He added: “We will meet with the Turkish Minister of Commerce and relevant ministers to finalize the procedures relating to the free trade agreement between our two countries and overcome all difficulties.”
-Al-Hawija also stressed that “the Turkish experience is one of the best in the short term, and we are taking advantage of it.”
He continued: “Our doors are wide open to Türkiye, and we provide all possible facilities, in compliance with current legislation.”
“We have also, within the framework of the group of Islamic States and in favor of trade preference, sought to reach a convention to avoid double taxation.
We have submitted a global project and only a few details are missing before its signature.”
The two countries enjoy strong relations in various fields and have signed numerous bilateral cooperation agreements.
On April 12, 2021, Turkey and Libya concluded five agreements in various fields, during a ceremony attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Prime Minister of the Libyan National Unity Government, Abdelhamid Dbeibah, who had visited Türkiye at the head of a delegation including 14 ministers.
Over the past month, a Libyan delegation, bringing together eminent figures in economic and commercial development, met with the president of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, to discuss partnership prospects and strengthen trade between the two countries.
*Translated from Arabic by Sanaa Amir
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