Tunisia: Plan with Libya and Algeria aims to eliminate smuggling
Tunisian Minister of Trade, Samir Obeid has revealed the preparation of a plan with Libya and Algeria that will develop border areas and eliminate parallel trade (the black market) and smuggling.
According to The Libya Observer on March 30th,the new plan came in response to a parliamentary question in the Tunisian House of Representatives regarding parallel trade and the establishment of free trade zones.
Obeid said the Tunisian authorities are currently developing comprehensive and effective solutions to combat parallel trade, stopping its negative impacts upon the country’s economy.
The minister also stressed the importance of strengthening communication with young people, educating them of the risks of being involved in the informal economy, and by considering young people an effective tool to support regional development.
One of the most important developments in this plan is set to be the Ben Guerdane border region between Libya and Tunisia. The ministry hopes to successfully integrate it into the development project, transforming it into an attractive investment area that will create wealth and employment opportunities, particularly for young people.
This is not the only matter the three countries are currently collaborating on, earlier in March Tunisia, Libya and Algeria advanced a joint electrical interconnection project, aiming to prevent blackouts across North Africa.
The Libya Observer, Maghrebi, The Organized Crime Index
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