Experts call for re-launch of Maghreban free trade zone

Maghreban experts called, on Thursday, for the re-launch of the project of the Maghreban free trade zone and for the integration of e-trade techniques to help boost exchanges between countries of the region.

The experts were taking part in a three-day seminar that was also attended by private operators from the five states of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), namely Algeria, Libya, Mauritanian, Morocco and Tunisia.

The seminar urged UMA countries to reactivate the Maghreban bank for investment and foreign trade so as to fund important projects in the region, highlighting factors that impeded economic development in the Maghreb Union.

Since its establishment in 1989, the north African regional grouping has faced many obstacles especially because of political differences between some of its members states.

The UMA experts identified challenges facing the region, particularly in the economic realm, and raised awareness on the role of information technologies (IT) in developing trade between Maghreban countries and the rest of the world.

They called for integrating the IT sector in economic development strategies, setting partnerships with the private sector and training human resources.

They drew attention to brain drain which affects the Maghreb's potential in IT, saying it is important to offer operators in the sector opportunities to contribute efficiently to the economy of their countries.

Participants recommended setting up a commission of experts in charge of promoting e-trade in the Maghreban space.