Tunisia, Libya Vow to Boost Economic Ties
Tunisia and Libya have made a strong commitment to strengthen their bilateral economic ties, with a focus on boosting trade and facilitating joint investment projects. During the meeting of the joint Libyan-Tunisian economic commission held in Tripoli on December 7, 2024, key areas of collaboration were reviewed and concrete steps outlined for deepening economic integration.
Shared Vision for Economic Growth
Samir Abid, Tunisia’s Minister of Trade and Export Development, underscored Tunisia’s dedication to bolstering its longstanding relationship with Libya. He highlighted the need to deepen commercial and economic cooperation across various sectors. Abid emphasized the importance of developing and implementing bilateral agreements to increase bilateral trade volume and encourage partnerships between businesses in both countries.
“Modernizing border crossing points between Tunisia and Libya is a top priority to facilitate trade,” stated Abid. “These infrastructures are crucial for the smooth movement of goods and passengers.”
The Minister also highlighted the importance of collaborating on joint projects in key areas such as transport and communications to stimulate economic advancement and strengthen bilateral trade.
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Libya Seeks Deeper Integration
Mohamed Al-Huweij, Libya’s Minister of Economy and Trade, echoed the sentiment, stressing the importance of strengthening economic integration between the two nations. “Libya seeks to deepen strategic relations with Tunisia in vital sectors such as health, transport, and food and pharmaceutical security,” Al-Huweij stated. These areas represent national priorities for Libya’s economic development.
Implementing measures to facilitate investments between the two countries was a key takeaway. The Libyan-Tunisian Economic Commission will actively work to resolve any obstacles faced by businesses and investors. Further, the Libyian Ministry of Economy declared its intention to encourage partnerships amongst Libyan and Tunisian private companies, with an ambitious goal of increasing bilateral trade volume from 3.5 billion to 5 billion dinars per year.
Building New Economic Links
The creation of free zones and joint investment zones in border regions emerged as a key strategy. This initiative aims to boost transit trade and unlock new economic possibilities in the African market. The initiative aligns with Libya’s broader project of economic diversification and solidifying economic ties with neighboring nations.
The
participants agreed on an executive program to address the challenges in bilateral trade, which include streamlining customs procedures and harmonizing standards for certificates of conformity.
The Ministers also agreed to prepare a meeting between the Ministers of Economy and Trade of Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria focused on forging closer trilateral economic ties.
Several Memoranda of Understanding attesting to this new era of cooperation were signed during the trilateral discussions. These agreements cover a range of projects, notably consumer protection, enhancing the Tunisia-Libya land corridor to sub-Saharan Africa, and participation in trade fairs in 2025. The trade focused on long-term development and includes collaboration on the development of free trade and logistics zones between 2025-2026.
:What are the potential economic benefits for Tunisia and Libya from strengthening their economic ties?
## Tunisia and Libya: A Budding Economic Partnership
**Interviewer:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re discussing the strengthening economic ties between Tunisia and Libya. Joining us is Dr. Leila Ahmed, an expert on North African economies. Dr. Ahmed, thanks for being here.
**Dr. Ahmed:** It’s a pleasure to be here.
**Interviewer:** We saw headlines this week about a commitment from both countries to boost economic ties. Can you tell us more about that?
**Dr. Ahmed:** Absolutely. On December 7th, the joint Libyan-Tunisian economic commission met in Tripoli, and both sides expressed a strong desire to deepen their economic relationship. This goes beyond simply increasing trade; they’re talking about joint investment projects, infrastructure development, and collaboration in crucial sectors like health, transport, and food security.
**Interviewer:** That’s quite ambitious. What prompted this renewed focus on economic cooperation?
**Dr. Ahmed:** Well, both Tunisia and Libya are facing economic challenges.
Tunisia is grappling with high unemployment and slow economic growth. Libya, after years of conflict, is trying to rebuild its economy. They see a strong partnership as mutually beneficial. As Samir Abid, Tunisia’s Minister of Trade and Export Development, stated, modernizing border crossings to facilitate trade is a top priority. [[1](https://en.minbarlibya.org/2020/09/06/the-volatile-tunisia-libya-border-1/)]
**Interviewer:**
Interesting. What are some of the potential pitfalls they need to be aware of?
**Dr. Ahmed:** Absolutely. While the commitment is encouraging, history shows that border economies can be very volatile. [ [1](https://en.minbarlibya.org/2020/09/06/the-volatile-tunisia-libya-border-1/)]. Political instability in either country could easily disrupt plans. They need strong bilateral agreements and a commitment to transparency and collaboration to overcome these challenges.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for sharing your insights, Dr. Ahmed. This is certainly a partnership worth watching.
**Dr. Ahmed:** My pleasure.
