Algeria's strategic position makes it safe access to Africa

BATNA (Algeria)- The minister of Trade and Export Promotion, Kamel Rezig, said Tuesday that Algeria's strategic position in Africa "makes it a safe access to the continent and a bridge between the South and the North of the Mediterranean with the country's adherence to The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the agreement on which entered into force in 2021."
Chairing the opening of an international conference via video link on "the impact of African continental free trade on Algerian economy," held at the University of Batna-1, the minister said the strategic position of Algeria "also makes it an access to African countries, mainly the neighbours (Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Mali and Mauritania) through various transit stations, in addition to Algeria's belonging to the Arab world."
Rezig added that those factors make Algeria a key player in regional instrumentality and integration projects.
The government attaches a great importance to the establishment of free trade areas with African countries in border provinces, the minister stressed.
The choice is strategic as "African market penetration is an urgent need," emphasizing the importance of diversifying the economy and encouraging non-hydrocarbon exports.