As an embodiment of this complementary endeavour, the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, embarked, on Thursday, on a visit to the state of Tindouf, where he, along with his brother, the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Mr. Mohamed Ould Sheikh Al-Ghazouani, will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate a number of important and strategic joint projects in this area. Border area.
It is expected that the President of the Republic and his Mauritanian counterpart will, during this visit, supervise the inauguration of the fixed border crossings for the two countries and give the signal for the launch of the project to complete the Tindouf (Algeria) - Zouerate (Mauritania) road.
The two presidents will then lay the foundation stone for the Tindouf Free Zone project.
Recent months have witnessed an intensification of the exchange of official visits at various levels and a noticeable strengthening of consultation and coordination within the framework of the declared will and common ambition of both the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and his brother, the President of the sisterly Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Mr. Mohamed Ould Sheikh Al-Ghazouani, to advance fraternal relations. In-depth and distinguished relations between the two countries to the highest levels and to enhance harmony in positions regarding various issues of common interest.
The last visit of an Algerian official to sisterly Mauritania was made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the National Community Abroad, Mr. Ahmed Attaf, two weeks ago, in his capacity as a special envoy of the President of the Republic.
Mr. Attaf said in a statement to the press after his reception by the Mauritanian President, who had made a state visit to Algeria in December 2021, that based on the principled positions and homogeneous orientations that unite the two countries, and as they are places of stability and security in the region, Algeria and Mauritania “will work to intensify Their joint efforts to positively influence the course of events for the good of the countries and peoples of their regional neighbourhood.”
He highlighted that bilateral relations are currently experiencing “their most beautiful historical stages,” especially in the context of the complementary and integration projects that the presidents of the two countries agreed to launch, such as the strategic project to establish the Tindouf-Zouérat land road and the free zone for commercial and industrial exchange, completing the work on the two border crossings, and inaugurating the first Algerian bank. The first permanent exhibition of Algerian products in this brotherly country, in addition to several other projects that serve the humanitarian and social dimension of Algerian-Mauritanian relations.
Through the land road project linking the cities of Tindouf in Algeria and Zouerate in Mauritania, extending over a distance of approximately 800 kilometers, Algeria was able to complete, for the first time since regaining national sovereignty, a facility of great importance outside its borders, such that Algerian institutions sponsored the various stages of completion.
The “Maqar” free trade zone, regarding which the President of the Republic chaired a working meeting the day before yesterday, Tuesday, will serve as a gateway to West Africa, to be added to other free trade zones that were decided to be created in the south of the country in Tin Zaoutin, Timiaouine, Bordj Badji Mokhtar, and Al-Debdab.
The land border crossing, “Chahid Mustafa Ben Boulaid,” linking the two countries, will also have a significant impact on increasing the volume of trade exchanges, which are currently witnessing continuous growth.
Mauritania is considered the first station in the process of embodying Algeria’s intention to open branches of Algerian banks in Africa, so that after opening its first commercial agency in this sister country last September, a few days ago, Al-Ittihad Bank of Algeria opened a new commercial agency in the city of Nouadhibou, Mauritania, with the aim of providing neighborhood services. Real and enhance trade exchanges and stimulate economic movement and intra-trade between the two brotherly countries.
Algeria is one of Mauritania's most important economic partners, as the value of Algerian exports to Mauritania has recorded a steady increase over the past three years, exceeding 200 percent. These numbers are likely to rise further in the future thanks to the entry into service of strategic projects between the two countries.
To facilitate the smooth flow of trade exchanges, a meeting of the Algerian-Mauritanian Joint Customs Committee was held last November in Algiers at its sixth session, whereby it was agreed to enhance customs cooperation between the two countries and facilitate the process of cross-border exchange.
On the same occasion, the need to implement all mechanisms that would facilitate and secure the movement of goods and passengers in order to confront all types of cross-border crime was emphasized, in addition to overcoming all possible obstacles that may hinder the effective field implementation of these mechanisms.
Presidents Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Mohamed Ould Sheikh Al-Ghazouani were keen to build a comprehensive strategic partnership that would be a model in the region and reflect the strength of established historical relations and work to raise them to the level of brotherhood and friendship that bind the two brotherly peoples.