TAMANRASSET – The Minister of Trade and Export Promotion, Kamel Rezig stressed, Saturday in Tamanrasset, that the Algeria-Sahel Businessmen’s Forum was a real opportunity to develop and strengthen interregional trade and achieve economic integration .
Kicking off the Forum at the Tahat Hotel in Tamanrasset, in the presence of the Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts, Yacine Hamadi, the Minister of Commerce and Industry of Mali Mohamed Ould Mouloud, the Secretary General of the Ministry du Commerce du Niger, as well as members of the diplomatic corps of Mali, Niger, Mauritania, Chad and Burkina Faso, Mr. Rezig specified that Tamanrasset “is hosting the first meeting of Algeria-Sahel businessmen to discuss ways and means of developing and strengthening interregional trade”.
This meeting will also be an opportunity to discuss the revitalization of exchanges in the fields of trade and tourism, he said.
The presence of the presidents of the chambers of commerce of these countries will make it possible to set up the first interregional exchange platform with a view to building bridges between the economic operators of these countries, adds the minister.
Mr. Rezig hailed the important role of chambers of commerce and councils of business leaders in bringing together points of view and supporting economic operators in the development of their trade.
Recalling that the volume of intra-African trade does not exceed 15%, or 2% of world trade, he called on economic operators to develop interregional trade in the Sahel region according to the win-win rule.
The Assihar event is an opportunity to increase interregional exchanges, especially after the creation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (ZLECAf), he said, adding that Tamanrasset will be a gateway to Africa.
For his part, the Minister of Trade and Industry of Mali, Mohamed Ould Mouloud stressed that Mali and Algeria “maintain historical relations”, specifying that economic integration in the region requires establishing exchanges commercial.
In this sense, he highlighted the trade relationship between Algeria and Mali which, he said, must be strengthened through the establishment of a wealth-creating cooperation framework.
The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Weddady Ould Sidi Haiba, for his part, highlighted the importance of the road linking Tindouf (Algeria) to Zouerate (Mauritania) and its great prospects in order to establish the opportunities of partnership between these two countries but also between Algeria and the various African States.
The Mauritanian diplomat also indicated that this axis would be a catalyst for interregional trade and would encourage Algerian and Mauritanian businessmen to set up more exchange and coordination mechanisms in order to achieve the expected level of trade.
The Secretary General of the Nigerien Ministry of Commerce, Abdou Ibrahim, for his part, welcomed this initiative which, according to him, constitutes an essential component in the support of intra-African trade capable of creating an African market.
The President of the Algerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACI), Kamel Hamani, for his part, indicated that the Algeria-Sahel Forum would contribute to boosting a dynamic in interregional trade, emphasizing on the importance of developing a solid legal and legislative arsenal to organize these exchanges and thus achieve the expected objectives.
On this occasion, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the CACI and the Chamber of Commerce of Chad on the creation of an Algerian-Chadian business council.
This Algeria-Sahel Businessmen Forum is held on the sidelines of Assihar, an economic event (organized from December 23, 2022 to January 6, 2023) whose work was launched on Friday in the capital of Ahaggar.
