Japan-Libya Relations

August 27, 2021

Basic Data

Diplomatic Relations:

  • Established in 1957. Embassy of Japan in Libya was opened in 1973.
  • Embassy of Libya opened in Japan in 1971, renamed to 'People's Bureau' in 1980, renamed to “Embassy of Japan in Libya”.

Japanese Nationals:

  • Number of Japanese Nationals residing in Libya: 10 (October 2020)
  • Number of Libyan Nationals residing in Japan: 62 (June 2020)

Japan’s Economic Cooperation:

  • As the DAC list was revised in December 2005, Libya was added to the ODA list. After this revision, technical cooperation continued until 2014. Due to the unstable situation in Libya in 2014, technical cooperation was temporarily suspended. In FY2018, Japan decided to accept Libyan students as participants of the ABE Initiative (African Business Education Initiative for Youth).
  • Since the outbreak of civil war in 2011, Japan has continued its assistance for Libya through international organizations except FY2014 and FY2015. In FY2020-2021, Japan provided approximately 18 million US dollar support for economic reconstruction, food assistance and fight against COVID-19 through UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA and WFP.

Cultural Exchange

Since the outbreak of civil war in 2011, there has been no cultural exchange or cultural event at the government level.

Trade with Japan (2019):

  • Exports to Japan: 0.14 billion Yen
  • Imports from Japan: 3.591 billion Yen

VIP Visits (since 2012)

From Japan to Libya:
Year Name
2012 Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Ryuji Yamane
From Libya to Japan:
Year Name
2012 Minister of Foreign Affairs Khaial
2012 Minister of Social Affairs Jabril
2013 Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Abdulaziz (TICAD V)
2013 Minister of Industry Fituri
2013 Deputy Minister of Industry El-ghawi
2019 Minister of Foreign Affairs Siala (TICAD7)
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