Algerian Minister of Public Works and Basic Infrastructure, Abdelkader Djellaoui, hosted a meeting with an African Development Bank (AfDB) delegation in Algiers to discuss preparations for the Laghouat-Ghardaïa-El Meniaa railway project. The project, spanning 495 km, is financed through a partnership between the AfDB and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). The meeting aimed to strengthen cooperation between Algeria and the AfDB in investment, infrastructure financing, and railway development.
The meeting was followed by an expanded working session attended by Minister of Vocational Training and Education, Nacima Arhab, AfDB representatives, officials from the National Agency for Studies and Monitoring of Railway Investments (ANESRIF), and a representative from the Ministry of Finance. Discussions focused on the project's technical and organizational aspects, with presentations on equipment, capacities, and resources mobilized for the project's launch.
The working session included a presentation on the master plan for maintenance centers and establishments along the Laghouat-Ghardaïa-El Meniaa railway corridor. This is a crucial element in ensuring the operation and maintenance of railway infrastructure, as well as accompanying the network's extension. The participants also examined the socio-economic dimensions of railway projects, including training and employment opportunities, as well as the needs of these projects in qualified human resources.
The National Referential Framework for Training and Competencies (RNFC) was presented during the meeting, along with a joint work approach aimed at adapting vocational training offers to the requirements of railway projects, particularly the Laghouat-Ghardaïa-El Meniaa line. This approach involves identifying the necessary professions and specialties to anticipate the project's needs in qualified labor and establish a link between training, labor market requirements, and job opportunities.
Participants emphasized the importance of continued coordination between the Public Works and Basic Infrastructure sector and the AfDB to support the realization of railway projects in line with set objectives. The AfDB delegation expressed satisfaction with the level of preparations for the Laghouat-Ghardaïa-El Meniaa project, praising efforts to strengthen coordination between ministerial sectors and link project implementation to satisfying training and employment needs.
The project is expected to have significant socio-economic impacts, and the AfDB delegation welcomed Algeria's efforts to ensure that the project's benefits are maximized. The railway line is set to boost economic development in the regions it connects, creating new opportunities for growth and employment. The project's implementation is being closely monitored by the Algerian government and its international partners.
Key aspects of the project include the development of maintenance centers and establishments along the railway corridor, as well as the adaptation of vocational training offers to meet the needs of the project. The project's success is seen as crucial to Algeria's efforts to expand its railway network and improve the country's transportation infrastructure.
Key points
- The 495km Laghouat-Ghardaïa-El Meniaa railway project is financed through a partnership between the AfDB and the AIIB.
- The project aims to strengthen cooperation between Algeria and the AfDB in investment, infrastructure financing, and railway development.
- The project's implementation is expected to have significant socio-economic impacts, including job creation and economic growth in the regions it connects.
