Algiers_ Libya and Algeria have agreed to resume active bilateral relations and cooperation in all fields after almost a decade of disruption of relations as a result of the instability in Libya.
During a meeting between Libya’s Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dabaiba the Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Sunday evening in Algiers both parties hailed the strong ties between the peoples of both countries and the underlined mutual desire to cooperate for the sake of their mutual interests.
Dabaiba pointed at the importance of strengthening security cooperation with Algeria in the fields of combating cross-border crime and combating terrorism and said the just concluded three-day Algeria-Libya economic forum will contribute to improving trade between the two countries.
It has been reported that at present trade between both countries is meager and amounts to only US$65 million, 59 million of which are from Algerian exports to Libya.
Participants in the forum on both sides called on the authorities to facilitate trade exchange which the estimated could increase to three billion dollar per year.
The success of this alliance depends on tangible and pragmatic support from Algerian and Libyan businesspeople to reactivate the Joint Buisness Council through the institutional role of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in both nations, Algerian Minister of Trade Kamel Rezig said.
For his part, Libyan Minister of Economy and Trade, Mohamed Al Hawij, called for the creation of a free zone between both countries, and the opening of the Debdeb-Ghadames border crossing point to strengthen bilateral exchange.
It has been agreed that this crossing as well as the resumption of air flights between Libya and Algeria will take place soon. Algeria’s oil giant, Sonatrach, will also return to do business in Libya.