Unlocking economic opportunities: Libya as a maritime gateway for landlocked African countries

Abstract

Seaports are crucial for global trade and economic activity, connecting countries and facilitating the movement of goods and people. This paper explores Libya's potential as a maritime gateway for landlocked African countries, focusing on effective strategies to unlock economic opportunities. Using a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making approach, the study identifies obstacles faced by Libyan free trade zones in serving as a seaport gateway. Political instability and weak regulations are the main barriers, while streamlining regulations and improving security emerge as the most effective strategies. The findings draw on qualitative and quantitative data, including expert interviews and economic/regulatory analysis. This study emphasizes Libya's potential as a gateway and highlights the need for targeted interventions to overcome current obstacles. It offers valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders in unlocking economic opportunities in this important region.