El Alamein Forum Hears Tebboune’s Vision for NEPAD Success
Speaking at the Summit of the founding states of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) in El Alamein, Egypt, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, represented by the President of the Council of the Nation, Azzouz Nasri, called for a renewed phase of African development. This new stage, coinciding with NEPAD's 25th anniversary, emphasizes effective project execution, the mobilization of Africa's own resources, and the strengthening of continental economic integration. President Tebboune's vision underlines a crucial shift from mere planning to concrete implementation, transforming fragmented approaches into impactful structural projects, and turning political commitments into tangible, measurable results that directly benefit African citizens.
Algeria's participation reaffirmed its African identity as a fixed strategic choice, translated into numerous initiatives and projects aimed at bolstering continental connectivity and integration. Key projects highlighted include the Trans-Saharan Road, which links Algeria with five other African nations, serving as a strategic artery for trade and economic integration. Other initiatives comprise the Tindouf-Zouerate road to Mauritania, the expansion of the southern railway network, the Trans-Saharan fiber optic project to enhance digital connectivity in the Sahel, and the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, a significant energy and development cooperation endeavor. Furthermore, Algeria has consistently invested in human capital, training tens of thousands of African professionals since its independence and annually providing scholarships and training opportunities to African students, a commitment reinforced by the Algerian Agency for International Cooperation for Solidarity and Development, which finances development projects across various African countries.
A central tenet of Algeria's perspective is addressing the financing gap in African development. President Tebboune's statement stressed the imperative for Africa to enhance its capacity to mobilize its own resources, directing African capital and savings towards continental development priorities, and strengthening the role of African financial institutions. The private sector is recognized as a vital partner for investment, innovation, and job creation, necessitating improved business environments, enhanced project bankability, and the development of public-private partnerships. Algeria also advocates for reinforcing financial, technical, and human resources allocated to Agenda 2063 flagship projects and accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to drive intra-African trade and economic integration. Support for an African credit rating agency is underscored as a means to bolster the continent's financial sovereignty and ensure fairer access to financing, alongside calls for a more equitable approach to developing countries' debt and a reform of international financial institutions to ensure better African representation.
