Ahmad 
Tunisia and Algeria have begun a new phase of cooperation in the development of their border areas and the launch of several projects there.
The bilateral committee for development in the Algerian border regions signed several agreements on the launch of infrastructure projects in the border provinces, as part of its efforts to confront smuggling operations and replace official activities.
At a press conference held in the capital in the presence of Algerian Interior Minister Brahim Mourad and his Tunisian counterpart Kamel Feki, the two ministers stressed the importance of the agreements and the time plan, which included “real and realistic projects” that fall within the priorities of the two governments.
The agreements also aim to establish a “joint free trade area” in Algeria’s El Oued province and the Hazwa region in Tunisia’s Tozeur province, with the aim of boosting trade exchange, which amounted to 1.2 billion dollars in 2021.
Algerian economist Ahmed Tartar explained that the cooperation covers a wide range of sectors, noting that it focuses on improving the services of citizens in border areas, with a focus on agricultural training and the exchange of experiences.
Tartar added that the agreements also cover the areas of education and joint training, in addition to focusing on the pharmaceutical industry and the fishing sector, which contributes to promoting development and attracting investments in the border areas between Algeria and Tunisia.
Algerian academic Hakim Boughrara stressed the importance of the agreements in boosting the agricultural, industrial and tourism sectors and reducing smuggling operations that negatively affect the Algerian economy.
The agreements include efforts to develop infrastructure, including the investment of border crossings and the establishment of free zones between the two countries, which enhances exchange and investments in border areas, and contributes to improving cooperation between the two countries at the level of infrastructure and economy.