On Thursday, the heads of state for Algeria and Mauritania jointly inaugurated a border gateway, underscoring their commitment to fortify bilateral relations and stimulate trade.
In a significant move, the leaders have additionally reached consensus on the establishment of a free trade zone and the construction of an 847-kilometre (526-mile) road connecting the Algerian town of Tindouf to Mauritania’s Ezouirat.
“Hotels, restaurants, taxi drivers and workers in the public sector and housing sectors are happy,” Dida Abdewahab, a Tindouf resident, told newsmen.
The agreement comes a few days after OPEC member Algeria announced it would invest $442 million in energy projects in Mali, Niger and Libya.
Algeria has also announced it will open four other free trade zones in 2024 with Mali, Niger, Tunisia and Libya.
Algeria, heavily dependent on oil and gas sales, is striving to diversify its economy.
Its exports outside hydrocarbons reached a record of $7 billion in 2022, and totalled $5.3 billion in the first 11 months of 2023, according to official figures.
Algeria has a trade surplus in ceramics, clinker cement, ferrous products, refined sugar, and dates.
“This should have happened a long time ago but there was not enough diplomatic attention given to Mauritania,” Geoff Porter, an American analyst specialised in North Africa, told reporters.
