An international meeting on trade exchanges among members of the liaison of the trans-Saharan road (CLRT) started Tuesday morning in Niger’s capital city of Niamey, with a view to examining all trade opportunities by member nations.
The meeting is being attended by representatives of all CLRT member nations – Al geria, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Tunisia.
In his opening speech, Niger’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Standardization H alidou Badjé reaffirmed the determination of his country to achieve integration programmes and projects as well as to cooperate with economic operat ors in the sub-region.
Mr. Badjé said current trade exchanges “do not reflect the excellent relations a mong CLRT member countries”.
The project for the construction of the trans-Saharan road was launched in the e arly 1970s, following a study financed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Since then, 3,700 kms of road have been constructed, including 500kms over the p ast two years.
Out of the total of 4,500kms separating Algiers from Lagos, only 200kms remain t o be constructed – from Arlit (Niger) to the Algerian border.
