Benghazi – Tuesday, 28 April 2026 H.E. the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Libyan Government, Dr. Abdulhadi Al-Hweij, received today at the Ministry’s headquarters in Benghazi Mr. Saadallah Tekin, Representative of the Turkish World Business Council (DTİK) in Libya, affiliated with the Foreign Economic Relations Board under the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye, in the presence of Mr. Haitham Al-Keib, Director of the Asia and Australia Affairs Department at the Ministry. During the meeting, the Turkish side presented a proposal to establish a free industrial zone in Libya aimed at attracting Turkish and international investments, and leveraging Türkiye’s advanced expertise in managing free zones and developing industrial cities, in a manner that strengthens the economic infrastructure and supports development-oriented policies. H.E. the Minister praised the role that the Turkish World Business Council can play in stimulating economic cooperation, affirming the Libyan Government’s support for such strategic initiatives and its commitment to expanding areas of economic and investment partnership with the Republic of Türkiye. He described the proposal as a qualitative step toward building a partnership based on sustainable development, which would contribute to diversifying the national economy, creating job opportunities, and enhancing Libya’s position as an economic gateway to African markets. For his part, Mr. Saadallah Tekin reviewed the Council’s vision for strengthening the presence of the Turkish private sector in the Libyan market, highlighting its extensive network of Turkish businessmen and investors worldwide, as well as its accumulated expertise that can be leveraged to ensure the success of the free industrial zone project. He noted that the project would provide an attractive environment for manufacturing industries and logistics services, and open broader prospects for trade exchange with Africa. At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides agreed to continue coordination through joint channels and to work on preparing the necessary technical and economic studies, in preparation for exploring implementation mechanisms for the project. They also emphasized the importance of ongoing consultations to overcome challenges facing investors and enhance prospects for success.