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Libya will sign a strategic partnership with international companies on Sunday to expand and develop the Misurata Free Zone, a project expected to attract up to $2.7 billion in investment, Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah said.
Dbeibah, in a post on X, said the agreement would launch “one of the largest maritime infrastructure projects in Libya’s history” through the development and expansion of the Free Zone port facilities in Misurata.
“Today, we are launching one of the largest maritime infrastructure projects in Libya’s history, through the signing of a strategic partnership for the development and expansion of the Free Zone Port Station in Misurata,” Dbeibah wrote, adding that investments would reach “up to $2.7 billion.”
The partnership includes Qatari, Italian and Swiss companies, led by MSC, the world’s largest shipping firm. Dbeibah said the project would increase container handling capacity to 4 million containers annually.
“This project not only enhances Libya’s position among the largest ports in the region in terms of size and capacity, but is also based on direct foreign investment financing within a comprehensive international partnership,” he said.
Dbeibah said the financing and operating structure would ensure implementation “without imposing additional burdens on the state budget,” and would support the government’s goal of attracting external financing to boost economic activity and modernise infrastructure.
According to the prime minister, the project is expected to generate annual operating revenues of about $500 million and expected to create 8,400 direct jobs and around 60,000 indirect jobs.
