Algeria Looks to Transnational Highway Project for Nigeria Trade Boost

The key role earmarked for the 9022-km Trans-Sahara Highway in facilitating deeper trade relations between Algeria and several African markets, including Nigeria,is expected to be a topic of discussion at a transcontinental forum taking place in Algiers at the beginning of December.

The global publishing firm Oxford Business Group (OBG) will be a key partner at the African Investments and Business Forum, which takes place from December 3rd – 5th at the International Conference Centre. The event, which is supported by the Algerian government and the Algerian Business Leaders Forum (FCE),will bring together more than 2000 industry and public sector representatives from across the continent, including several government leaders.

Aliko Dangote,PDG Dangote Group Nigeria,will be among the speakers at the conference.

Brahim Benabdeslem, vice-president of the FCE, said the forum would provide an important platform for ​​collective sharing and co-development. He also welcomed the meeting’s location.

“Algeria wishes to play a central role in building adhesion among countries across the continent and will strive to push the African continent toward being a global economic powerhouse,” he said.

Algeria has already begun the process of diversifying its economy and moving up the value chain, in a bid toreduce the country’s financial dependence on oil and gas. The country has also managed to counter a drop in revenues by rationalising its fiscal and monetary policies, whilemaintaining its plans for investing in both infrastructure, and social and human development. The country’s long-term strategy for broadening the economic base includes driving up investment from countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa and building on trade partnerships.

Africa’s futurewill be, in part, determined by the pace of economic and social development within each individual country, including the rate of technological progress.

The African Investments and Business Forum will provide business leaders and public sector representatives with an unparalleled opportunity to explore and reflect on the key issues currently affecting economic development throughout the continent. It will also provide a platform for participants to discuss the African Union’s strategies for boosting intra-African trade.

The conference will focus on the five areas that have been identified as pivotal for producing a lasting collective dynamic, namely: agriculture; energy; finance; digital development; and human capital.

“These are the key elements that will shape the programme of this event and drive the new inter-African dynamic, as well as an economic vision that is balanced, coherent and inclusive,” ToufikLerari, president of Jil'FCE, said.

With a focus on seeking out African solutions to African problems, the Algiers event is a significant step towards collective autonomy. It will provide business leaders keen to contribute to the continent’s economic development with the means to learn more about the opportunities available to them.

Many of the themes explored at the forum will be analysed in detail in The Report: Algeria 2016, OBG’s forthcoming report on the country. OBG’s publication will highlight the need to pivot towards Sub-Saharan Africa. It will also chart the diversification of the Algerian economy; the shift towards the development of industry and value-added activities; agriculture’s key role; and the growing emphasis on exports, including the recognition of Algerian products abroad. The publication will be a vital guide to the many facets of the country, including its macroeconomics, infrastructure, banking and other sectoral developments.