India-Libya Commercial Relations

Background

India and Libya have traditionally enjoyed historic warm and friendly relations. India opened its Diplomatic Mission in Tripoli in 1969. India has regularly supported Libya at international fora and welcomed the UNSCR 1506 adopted on 12 September 2003, lifting sanctions imposed on Libya.

Following 2011 political turmoil, India recognized the National Transition Council (NTC) on 16 November 2011 and continued to extend support at various fora. India provided humanitarian assistance of US$ 1 million through the United Nation’s Office of Commissioner of Humanitarian Aid. This was followed by another humanitarian assistance in the form of life saving drugs and medical equipment worth US$ 1 million delivered to NTC in January 2012. Govt. of India also sent a team of prosthetic experts ‘Jaipur Foot’ to Libya for fitting artificial limbs.

In view of the fragile political and security situation in Libya, the Mission was temporarily relocated in Tunisia in 2011, then to Malta, and resumed its operations Tripoli in 2012, but was closed down in April 2019 due to worsening security situation. However, with improvement in security situation in Libya, the Mission in Tripoli has been reopened since July 2024 in order to revive the momentum of bilateral relationship, and subsequently, the ban on travel of Indians to Libya was lifted in August 2024, which was in force since April 2016 on security considerations.

Economic and Commercial Relations

India and Libya have enjoyed close economic ties. In 1978, the two countries signed a framework agreement on “Protocol on Industrial, Economic and Scientific Cooperation”. This was the beginning of consultations on economic cooperation between the two countries under Indo-Libyan Joint Commission (ILJC). Till now, a total of 10 sessions of JCM have been held. So far, the following Agreements/MoUs have been signed between the two countries in commercial fields:

• Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion (1981);
• Agreement for Cooperation in the field of Health and Medical Sciences (1983);
• Agreement on Economic Cooperation (1985);
• Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) (2007);
• MoU between the two Election Commissions in 26-30 Nov 2012.

The economic cooperation between the two countries spans the entire spectrum of commercial activities. Indian companies have been active in Libya for over 30 years. A number of projects have been executed in Libya by major Indian PSUs like BHEL, NBCC, OVL, IOC, Oil India, and private companies Punj Llyod, Unitech, KEC, SSB, Dastur Engineering, Shapoorji Pallonji, SECON, Global Steel (Ispat Group Company), NIIT, Sun Pharma, Simplex Projects, DS Construction, etc. The projects included construction of hospitals, housing units, schools, roads, power plants, airports, dams, transmission lines, etc.

Indian companies, especially in oil & gas, power generation, infotech and construction sectors, have several projects in Libya. Indian Oil, Oil India and ONGC Videsh were involved in the Libyan hydrocarbon sector. In April 2014, Punj Lloyd won a contract of US$ 665 million to set up infrastructure facilities at Zliten city. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has successfully completed execution of prestigious Western Mountain Gas Turbine Power Project. Many Indian IT companies like JMR, DSS Software, I-flex Solutions and others have continued to provide software solutions to various Libyan companies especially in banking sector. Several Indian companies are seeking to resume stalled projects in Libya once the security situation improves.

Bilateral Trade

India – Libya bilateral trade is largely in India’s favour. In the post-pandemic era, the trade has witnessed steady growth. Primary items of India’s exports include engineering goods, drugs & Pharmaceuticals, mica, coal and other ores, minerals, rice, tea, coffee, ceramic products and glassware. The main items of India’s import from Libya are petroleum (crude and products) and Aluminum ores.

Bilateral trade figures (US$ Mn) for the last 5 years:

Economic and Commercial Visits from India

In order to revive the momentum of bilateral trade and investment, A 7-member Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) delegation visited Tripoli on 08-09 September 2025 and held series of fruitful meetings with General Union of Chambers of Commerce and Agriculture; Ministry of Health, General Electricity of Libya (GECOL); Ministry of Tourism; Ministry of Housing; and Ministry of Commerce and Trade.

Recently, 15 Indian producers and exporters of Tea, Coffee, Basmati Rice, Grains, etc. participated in the Libyan International Food Exhibition “LibyaFood7” held in Tripoli from March 29 to April 01, 2026. Response from Libyan importers has been encouraging.

Earlier Engagements

A 14-member Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) delegation had visited Libya from 30 October-1 November 2012 and had meetings with the Libyan Business Council and Chamber of Commerce and individual meetings with government authorities including Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Health, etc. A meeting with Prime Minister of Libya was also arranged during which the Prime Minister was accompanied by his three Ministers and senior officials.

A 2-member OVL delegation participated in the CWC “Libya Forum on Oil and Gas” held in Tripoli on 17-18 September 2013. A 2-member technical delegation from BHEL headed by the CMD Mr. B P Rao visited Libya to finalize completion of their power plant and also attended board meeting of ECCO. Three Indian companies participated in the Pharma Expo from 10-12 September 2013. Some Indian companies participated in the 11th Tripoli International Book Fair from 01-10 October 2013 that was held for the first-time post-revolution of 2011. Dr. Tamanna Chaturvedi, from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) visited Libya on 24-25 March 2014 to discuss Executive Development Programme under the aegis of IAFS with the Libyan Ministry of Economy.

An ‘India Pavilion’ with around 80 participating firms from a range of consumer product sectors (the highest Indian participation in recent times and the largest foreign country participation out of the eight countries participating in the TIF 2014) led by ITPO that marked the return of India to one of Africa’s oldest fairs after three years post February 2011 revolution was organized successfully. Also, an ‘India Day’ event fully funded by ITPO was organized on 6 April 2014 for B-2-B interaction and BSM.

A 16-member CII-led CEOs delegation visited Tripoli to scout for business opportunities in ‘New Libya’ from 5-7 April 2014 and also called on the first Deputy President of the GNC Ezzidine Mohammed Al-Awami among others. Mr. J.K. Pandey, Group General Manager, TCIL, the nodal agency visited Libya from 11-14 May 2014 as part of the efforts to help revive the Pan-African E-Network Initiative launched in Libya in 2008-09 which was stalled following the February 2011 revolution.

Economic and Commercial Visits from Libya

A 6-member Libyan delegation led by Mr. Saeed Ibrahim Al-Khattali, Assistant Under Secretary of Technical Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs visited India to attend 9th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India Africa Project Partnership from 17-19 March 2013 in New Delhi. A 5-member delegation from the Libyan Ministry of Health led by Deputy Minister Ali Saad Saeid Saad visited India to attend “Health and Wellness Tourism Meet” from 26-29 April 2013 in Delhi. A 27-member business delegation headed by Chairman of Tripoli Chamber of Commerce and Vice Chairman of Libya Business Council (LBC) participated in ‘I for Afrika’ event organized by the Indo-African Chamber of Commerce from 3-6 October 2013 in Mumbai.

Two businessmen dealing with agriculture products attended the 33rd India International Trade Fair held from 14-27 November 2013 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Dr. Abdulbari A. Arousi, Minister of Oil & Gas led a 6-member delegation to India from 12-14 January 2014 to attend the biennial international Oil & Gas Conference & Exhibition ‘PETROTECH’. A 10-member business delegation from Libya visited India to participate in the Marble stone & granite (STONA) expo held in Bangalore during 12-15 February 2014. Chairman of the Libyan Privatization and Investment Board (PIB) visited India to attend the CII-EXIM Bank conclave held in New Delhi from 9-11 March 2014. In April 2015 Mr. Ahmed Nuredin Ali Salem, Minister of Electricity in the Tripoli Salvation Government visited India at the invitation of BHEL.