
Discussions between meeting between Algeria, Tunisia, Mali, Niger, Chad, and Nigeria over the vital Trans-Saharan Corridor are proving fruitful. A recent meeting held between the nations as well as several financial institutions and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), supported the move to develop the route fully as an economic corridor.
The 76th meeting of the Trans-Saharan Road Liaison Committee (CLRT) was held in Algiers, the capital of Algeria. This was held by video conference.
The route stretches some 10,000km in total between Algiers on the Mediterranean coast and Nigeria’s commercial centre, Lagos, on the Gulf of Guinea.
The transport route runs through Algeria, Niger and Nigeria. However it is also of direct economic importance to other nations in the region, namely Tunisia, Chad and Mali. The aim of the development programme for the Trans-Saharan Corridor is to boost trade and transport, assisting economic growth.
The harsh environment makes the route challenging to cross but it provides an economic lifeline.