Passengers head from Libya to Turkey by ferry for first time in 40 years

Passengers on a ferry in the port of Sarayburnu, Istanbul, Turkey [OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images]

A passenger ferry set sail from the Libyan port of Misrata to Turkey’s Izmir province on the Aegean coast for the first time in 40 years on Wednesday, Turkish local media reports.

According to the report, Libya has not been serviced by any international ferries for 25 years.

The port of Misrata is the hub for Turkish businesspeople. During Muammar Gaddafi’s rule from 1969, the port was under sanctions and closed for tourism and business.

It is hoped the initiative will increase trade volumes between Libya and Turkey.

Bilateral trade between the two countries soared by 43 per cent and reached $2.3 billion in the last two years despite the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Turkey-Libya Business Council’s report published in November.

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