The African Development Bank (AfDB) and Libya’s Ministry of Transportation concluded a three-day workshop in April 2026 to define the roadmap for a strategic transport sector study aimed at supporting the country’s economic recovery, according to a press release by the African Development Bank Group. The session took place at the Bank’s North Africa regional office in Tunis from April 15 to 17. It brought together Bank experts alongside representatives from Libya’s ministries of Finance and Transportation, the executing agency, and the project implementation unit.
Discussions at the workshop focused on implementation arrangements and the way forward for the strategic study. The Libyan delegation was led by Issam Abdallah Al-Qouri, Chair of the Preparatory Committee at the Ports and Maritime Transport Authority. It also included representatives from the Land Transport Authority, the Roads and Bridges Implementation Authority, and the Ministry of Transportation headquarters. The meeting reflected a coordinated effort between Libyan institutions and the Bank to advance sector-wide reform.
The study is financed through a $340,000 grant from the African Development Bank Group’s Middle-Income Country Technical Assistance Fund (MIC-TAF), supplemented by counterpart funding from the Libyan Government. It will produce a situational and gap analysis of Libya’s transport sector, a strategic plan with prioritized short- to medium-term actions, and recommendations for policy and institutional reform. The study will also include an action plan to strengthen private sector participation and indicative financing options for future investments. Additionally, it is expected to identify bankable public and private sector projects and help build a stronger pipeline for future Bank engagement in transport and logistics infrastructure.
Malinne Blomberg, the Bank Group’s Deputy Director General for North Africa and Country Manager for Libya, underscored the broader significance of the initiative. “An efficient and integrated transport system connects people to opportunities, facilitates trade, and enhances quality of life,” she said. The initiative aligns with the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy and is intended to serve as a reference framework for Libya’s transport policies and investments. It aims to help the country strengthen resilience, improve connectivity, and reduce the isolation of underserved areas.
Key reports produced under the study will be available in Arabic, English, and French, supporting broad ownership across Libyan institutions and development partners. The strategic plan will prioritize short- to medium-term actions tied to Libya’s broader economic recovery reforms. The work is designed to serve as a lasting reference framework for the country’s transport sector. Together, these efforts position the study as a foundational tool for future transport and logistics investment in Libya.
