Istanbul
Turkey’s exports to Libya rose 58% year-on-year in the first four months of 2021 to $826 million, said a top Turkish trade group on Saturday.
While Turkey’s overall exports were up 33.1% this January-April, this increase in Libya reached 58%, almost double the general average, said Murtaza Karanfil, chairman of the Turkey-Libya Council of the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK).
In April alone, Karanfil told Anadolu Agency that exports to Libya skyrocketed 228% to $263.3 million compared to the same period last year, showing that strong bilateral ties are clearly being reflected in trade.
“We know that the Turkish private sector is enthusiastic about completing missing projects and taking part in new projects in Libya,” he said, referring to work that had to be abandoned due years of turmoil in the North African country.
Libya has needs that have accumulated especially due to the situation over the last 10 years – since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi and the ensuing chaos – and need to be resolved quickly, he stressed.—AA
