The city and district of Misrata, Libya’s third-largest urban centre, is situated on the Mediterranean coast roughly 200km east of Tripoli and 800km west of Benghazi. As the single largest port of entry for goods arriving into the country, Misrata has long had a reputation for being the trade capital of Libya. It has historically been regarded as the country’s business capital, particularly in…
With an area of around 1.76m sq km, Libya is the fourth largest country in Africa in terms of land mass. The country is mostly desert, with the Sahara covering the majority of its territory. Libya has a coastline stretching more than 1770 km along the Mediterranean Sea. The capital Tripoli is located on the western coast, and other major cities include Benghazi, Misrata and Tobruk. Libya…
Located on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa and bordering Egypt, Sudan, Chad, Niger, Algeria and Tunisia, Libya has a rich history dating back to the Phoenician era. Various civilisations ruled over the regions of Tripolitania in the north-west, Cyrenaica in the east and Fezzan in the south-west, which make up modern Libya, including the Romans, the Ottomans and the Italians, before the country…
Interview:Abdallah BenNaser How have recent supply chain disruptions impacted raw material imports and manufacturing in Misrata and the broader region? ABDALLAH BENNASER: The recent global disruptions resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic led to more than a 100% price increase for certain raw materials and higher shipping costs, particularly from China. Additionally, factory closures worldwide…
Interview:Naohiro Masuda How do you assess the automotive industry following the Covid-19 pandemic and other economic challenges in recent years? NAOHIRO MASUDA: During periods of civil conflict or economic disruption, it is difficult for consumers to make large purchases. As we move beyond the pandemic and instability in the past decade, consumers are beginning to have a higher level of…
Interview:Abdulhamit Karanfil In what ways do you expect the health care sector to adapt following the Covid-19 pandemic? ABDULHAMIT KARANFIL: The pandemic significantly impacted Libya’s health care, including in Misrata, posing challenges to an already vulnerable system. Limited resources hindered effective response. Yet, the crisis highlighted the industry’s importance and the role of the…
Interview:Mohamed Al Za’louk How are factors such as consumer demand and affordability affecting investment and local companies in the agriculture and food industry? MOHAMED AL ZA’LOUK: Consumer demand and affordability are critical drivers shaping investment in the agriculture and food industry both locally and internationally. The Covid-19 pandemic had a considerable impact on consumer…
Interview: Majdi Ashibani In what ways is the demand for technical skills in the broader workforce changing? MAJDI ASHIBANI:In recent years, the landscape of workforce demands in Misrata has been evolving, and we have observed a significant shift in the demand for technical skills. Digitalisation is a growing priority in the public and private sectors. With the Covid-19 pandemic, this process…
Interview:Mohamed Al Faqih How does infrastructure in Misrata support manufacturing, and what role do large infrastructure projects play in supporting local industries? MOHAMED AL FAQIH: Manufacturing has been confronted with the challenge of intermittent electricity supply in recent years. However, the improved consistency of power supply has resulted in an increase in production output, highlighting…
Interview:Muhsen Sigutri To what extent can Misrata and Libya compete more effectively as a shipping and logistics centre? MUHSEN SIGUTRI: The fluctuations in energy prices and global supply chain disruptions have primarily impacted cargo and shipment prices. The sector has witnessed significant price changes in recent years, with some fares increasing by more than 100% due not only to energy…
