Tripoli: Libya and Italy signed a contract today to implement the first phase of the new Emsaad-Ras Jdir highway project, to be fully funded by the Italian government under the Friendship and Cooperation Agreement from 2008.
According to Libyan News Agency, the contract includes constructing a 160-kilometer road from the Al-Aziziya area to Ras Jdir. This is part of a larger project spanning 1,750 kilometers, connecting various Libyan cities and regions along the coast.
The signing ceremony at the Khuld Palace in Tripoli was attended by key figures such as the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdulhamid Dabaiba, Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Giorgio Celi, and other Libyan and Italian officials. Representing Libya in the signing was Ali Faisal Aqab, while Gian Marco Martini signed on behalf of Italy.
Aqab noted that the project, halted in February 2011, was reactivated by the Government of National Unity. He highlighted the restructuring efforts led by the Minister of Transportation and
Prime Minister, which included new personnel like Engineer Mohamed Bouziane. Aqab outlined the project’s division into four main sections: Emsaad-Al Marj, Al Marj-Brega, Brega-Misrata, and Misrata-Ras Ajdir.
He emphasized the project’s importance as a vital link connecting Libya’s cities, enhancing development and unity. Aqab described the road as more than just infrastructure, but a corridor for communication, economic growth, job creation, and regional revitalization.
The project aims to connect the new highway with the trans-Saharan Highway, creating an economic corridor from the Misrata Free Zone to Cape Town, South Africa, promoting continental integration and trade. Aqab stressed that the Libya-Italy partnership is built on historical ties and mutual interests, showcasing international cooperation.
The project’s implementation aligns with the Italian side’s commitments under the 2008 agreement, which includes housing projects, scholarships for Libyan students, and encouraging Italian business investm
ents in Libya. This initiative is part of the “Return to Life” plan by the Government of National Unity, focusing on infrastructure rehabilitation and boosting economic activity across Libya.