Tunisian prime minister visits Libya: Boost to relations between the two Arab neighbors

Mustafa Kamel

Trade transactions between Tunisia and Libya are witnessing a boom after the decision to reopen the border crossings between the two countries, which had remained closed for about nine months, amid hopes of prosperity.

Tunisian Prime Minister Hisham Mechichi’s visit to Tripoli, which is the first of its kind since the interim Libyan executive authority assumed power on March 10, coincides with the resumption of Tunisian Airlines flights to the Libyan capital, becoming the first carrier to reopen its commercial air route in Libya.

Liberalization of commercial exchanges

Mechichi’s visit, which ended on Sunday, May 23, was the first that he led to Libya, accompanied by a high-level delegation that included representatives from national organizations and businessmen, and the second at the level of official diplomacy, as it was preceded by another visit by Tunisian President Kais Saied during the appointment of the Libyan transitional government.

Mechichi affirmed his country’s commitment to liberalizing commercial exchanges and the movement of people and capital to and from Libya, as well as Tunisia’s readiness to accompany the Libyans in the next construction stage, exposing his country’s experience in the fields of training, management, infrastructure and others.

During the joint press conference between the Tunisian prime minister and his Libyan counterpart, Abdul Hamid Dabaiba, Mechichi stressed that Tunisia has an encouraging investment climate and welcomes all investors, in particular the Libyans, who enjoy a special place in the country.

For his part, Dabaiba announced the signing of a multi-clause agreement that includes aspects of technical cooperation in the fields of land, sea and air transport, describing it as a bold and positive step to achieve the public benefit of the two brotherly peoples. He stressed that Libya will stand by Tunisia in the economic field, especially in the wake of the corona pandemic, promising to provide an important quantity of vaccines that will be directed as soon as it is obtained, in addition to sending important quantities of medical supplies to hospitals in southern Tunisia.

Dabaiba also promised to regularize the status of Tunisian workers in Libya, announcing the lifting of restrictions on credits in the entry of goods from Tunisia through the land borders.

Economic visit par excellence

The visit bore an economic character with distinction, as Mechichi was accompanied by Tunisian Central Bank Governor Marouane Abassi, Economic Minister Ali Kooli, Infrastructure Minister Kamal al-Doukh, Commerce Minister Mohamed Boussaid, and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Mohamed Ali al-Nafti.

Also among the delegation were Secretary-General of the Tunisian General Labor Union Noureddine Taboubi, President of the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts Samir Majoul, and President of the Tunisian Union of Agriculture and Fishing Abdel Majid El Zar, along with a thousand businessmen.

Observers of Libyan affairs confirmed that the visit was successful, although it came late. It included an important political indication of a clear desire to restore and develop relations to what they were previously, especially from an economic point of view.

This visit came at a time when Tunisia has moved on more than one level to be among the countries contributing to the reconstruction of Libya. Libyan Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Marine Resources Abdul Basit al-Ghunaimi said in March, “Tunisia, you will be a key partner in the reconstruction program in his country, although there are internal Tunisian criticisms of failing to play an important role at the official level and the absence of any diplomatic plan to guarantee investment quotas, not only in reconstruction, but in various sectors.”