Opening of the International Forum on the Maritime Economy at the Misrata Free Zone

The activities of the Libyan International Forum on the Maritime Economy were launched on Saturday morning, 10 January 2026, at the Misrata Free Zone. The forum is held under the supervision of the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, and in cooperation with the Libya Trade Network and the Port Training Institute of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport.

The opening ceremony was attended by Prof. Ismail Abd Elghafar Ismail Farag, President of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, who delivered a keynote address emphasizing the importance of strengthening the role of the maritime economy in supporting sustainable development in Libya. He highlighted the necessity of investing in port infrastructure and developing human capacities in the fields of maritime transport, logistics, and international trade, in order to position Libya as a pivotal hub for regional and international maritime trade.

The opening was also attended by H.E. Mr. Mohamed Al-Huwaij, Minister of Economy and Trade; Eng. Mohamed Al-Raeed, Chairman of the General Union of Chambers of Commerce and Industry; Eng. Mohsen Al-Sqoutari, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Misrata Free Zone; and Dr. Khaled Hanafy, Secretary General of the Union of Arab Chambers, in addition to a number of senior officials and ambassadors from several foreign countries.

The forum witnesses the participation of a distinguished group of specialists in the fields of maritime transport, logistics, and international trade from European and African countries, providing an opportunity for the exchange of expertise and the enhancement of international and regional cooperation. The scientific sessions of the forum will continue until Sunday evening.

During the forum’s activities, a cooperation agreement was signed between the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport and the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, reinforcing the framework of institutional partnership in the areas of training, capacity building, and the development of maritime economy and logistics projects.