African Development Bank Hails Alger-Tamanrasset Railway as Integration Engine
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has underscored the strategic importance of the Alger-Tamanrasset railway project, identifying it as a crucial driver for Algeria's economic development and broader integration within the African continent. This project forms a cornerstone of Algeria's national strategy to expand its railway network from its current 6,000 kilometers to an ambitious 15,000 kilometers by 2030, recognizing that an efficient transport network is fundamental to the nation's economic transformation and modernization of infrastructure.
The railway line is set to play an essential role in diversifying the Algerian economy. It will facilitate the transport of mineral resources, industrial goods, and agricultural products to ports and markets, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of Algerian companies and optimizing the value of resources available in the southern wilayas. The development of agricultural, mining, industrial, and logistical activities along the route is also anticipated to support the establishment of new businesses, create employment opportunities for young people, and foster the emergence of start-up companies in transport and logistics services. The AfDB is contributing to the financing of the first section of the project, covering 495 kilometers between Laghouat, Ghardaïa, and El Meniaâ.
On a regional scale, the Alger-Tamanrasset railway is expected to strengthen connections with existing and future African transport networks, facilitating trade with the Sahel region and the wider African continent. The project aligns with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), particularly concerning the development of intra-African trade and regional value chains. Abdoulkader Dileita, the AfDB Group's head of operations in Algeria, emphasized that the goal is to transform the Alger-Tamanrasset line into an economic corridor that connects territories, production centers, and markets, enhancing Algeria's integration with Niger and other West African nations. The AfDB has affirmed its readiness to continue its collaboration with Algerian authorities and other regional and international institutions to achieve these concrete outcomes.
