The Libyan government has signed an international partnership agreement to develop the Misurata Free Zone, with an estimated investment of $2.7 billion aimed at expanding port infrastructure and logistics capacity in the coastal city of Misurata. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah on Sunday during a signing ceremony attended by senior Libyan, Qatari and Italian officials.
Terminal Investment Limited, a global port operator affiliated with the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), has entered into a development agreement with the Misurata Free Zone Authority. Doha-based investment firm Maha Capital Partners will also participate as a long-term capital provider. According to statements made by the Libyan government, the investment is expected to generate annual revenues of approximately $500 million.
Located approximately 200 kilometres east of the capital Tripoli, Misurata is one of Libya’s main port cities. The Free Zone currently occupies 190 hectares and serves as a designated area for trade and industrial activity. The expansion is expected to increase the terminal’s capacity to handle up to four million containers annually.
Prime Minister Dbeibah stated that the initiative aims to strengthen Libya’s role in regional logistics and facilitate broader international trade connections, particularly between Africa, Europe and the Middle East. The agreement, he added, reflects a strategic effort to attract productive external financing and to utilise state assets in ways that can generate sustainable economic returns.
The project is expected to create approximately 8,400 direct jobs and around 60,000 indirect roles, according to projections shared by Libyan authorities. These figures include employment across logistics, warehousing, transport and ancillary sectors linked to port activity.
Chairman of the Misurata Free Zone, Muhsin Sigutri, described the agreement as a step toward building infrastructure that supports industrial activity and employment generation. In remarks shared with local and international media, he noted that the zone seeks to serve both local economic needs and regional trade ambitions.
Libya’s economy remains largely dependent on hydrocarbons, which account for over 95 percent of national revenue. Economic diversification has been identified by several Libyan institutions as a long-term objective. The expansion of port infrastructure and logistics capacity has been highlighted in recent years as a possible pathway to broader economic development.
The presence of Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani at the ceremony signals international interest in the project. No specific implementation timeline was disclosed at the event.
The Libyan government remains divided between eastern and western administrations, a division that has persisted since the 2014 political split following the 2011 conflict. Despite this, recent economic agreements have proceeded under the Tripoli-based government led by Prime Minister Dbeibah, which continues to seek external partnerships to finance infrastructure development.
The Misurata Free Zone Authority states that the zone operates under a legal and administrative framework designed to facilitate trade, attract investment and promote industrial development. Further information about the zone’s governance and planned developments can be found on the Misurata Free Zone website.
The agreement forms part of wider trends across Africa to increase investment in maritime infrastructure as countries seek to integrate more deeply into global supply chains. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which officially commenced trade in 2021, has provided new context for such developments, particularly as countries reassess the role of ports in regional connectivity.
No operational details regarding timelines, financing mechanisms or regulatory oversight have yet been published.
