18.09.2025 14:00
The Minister of Trade, Ömer Bolat, stated, "As of September 15, we have transitioned to a new visa system for Libyan citizens that is facilitative, long-term, and allows multiple entries."
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Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat met with Libyan Minister of Transport Muhammad Salim al-Shuhubi at the Ministry. In his speech here, Minister Bolat stated that the first meeting of the Turkey-Libya Joint Working Group was held in April in Tripoli, and today the second meeting is taking place.
"OUR MUTUAL TRADE HAS REACHED 3 BILLION DOLLARS"
Expressing that a roadmap was created and a protocol was signed regarding employer, contractor companies, and administrative negotiations as a result of the first meeting, Bolat stated that there are deep economic, trade, and investment relations between the two countries. Providing information about trade between the two countries, Bolat noted: "This year, our mutual trade reached 3 billion dollars in the first 8 months. We aim to close the year with at least 4 billion dollars. Next year, we are targeting a trade volume of 5 billion dollars. Libya is a very valuable country for us in the field of contracting. Because in 1972, Turkish contractors started their first job abroad in Libya, and to date, they have carried out 641 projects worth 31.5 billion dollars. We also have very close cooperation and exchanges in education, health, and tourism. We have serious trade relations in the energy sector with Libya, which produces the world's highest quality oil."
Emphasizing that there are significant cooperation opportunities in agriculture, fishing, mining, underground resources, and renewable energy such as solar and wind, Bolat stated that they proposed to hold the Turkey-Libya Joint Economic Commission (JEC) Meeting, which has not been held since 2009, in December of this year.
CRITICAL AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED SOON
Bolat announced that the agreement for the establishment of the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) between the two countries will also be signed soon in Istanbul. Explaining that the Turkey-Libya Joint Working Group will work to solve the problems that arose in the construction sector during the civil war in Libya, Bolat drew attention to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's efforts regarding the peace, stability, and development of this country.
VISA GOOD NEWS FOR LIBYAN CITIZENS
Bolat pointed to a new decision taken regarding this country, stating, "As of September 15, we have transitioned to a new visa system for Libyan citizens that is facilitative, long-term, and allows multiple entries. I want to share this good news, and I am pleased about it."
NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN THE OIL SECTOR FOR TURKISH COMPANIES
Libyan Minister of Transport Shuhubi also reported that the relations between the two countries have a long history and that efforts are ongoing to develop these relations. Stating that 50 flights are conducted weekly between Turkey and Libya, Shuhubi noted that they are working to initiate new flights and emphasized their desire to develop projects in the transportation sector with Turkey. Shuhubi pointed out that there are new opportunities, especially in the oil sector, for Turkish companies in Libya.
Shuhubi expressed that the government has initiated new projects within the scope of "return to life," stating that these projects cover many areas from the re-operation of roads to the construction of hospitals, some of which are being carried out by Turkish companies.
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