Mali, Algeria initiate joint transport services

Algeria vowed on Tuesday to speed up ratification of a deal with Mali to set up joint road and transport services, PANA reported. The commitment by Algerian Transport Minister Hamid Lanaouci was the result of his visit to Mali last week, PANA reported citing a communique released on Tuesday. Both countries agreed that their chambers of commerce meet regularly in order to encourage cooperation among private transport operators in the two countries. PANA said that landlocked Mali was also considering use of the Algerian sea port of Djenden for its trade. Both countries also agreed on direct air links with traffic rights between their capitals. This provision falls within the framework of the Yamoussoukro agreement that encourages African states to liberalise air transport on the continent.