France, Algeria to Cooperate Against Smuggling

Yesterday, in Nice, French and Algerian Customs representatives signed an agreement meant to fight smuggling more effectively.  

The agreement concentrates on the development of strategies and tools to fight fraud and other illegal business activities, reports the Algerian daily La Tribune. As of late, commercial smuggling has become an increasingly problematic area in trade relations between Paris and Algiers. During the first trimester of 2000, the trade balance of the two sides shows a deficit of about US$83 million on the French side whereas Algeria enjoyed an US$2 billion plus for the same items.  

Other discussed topics that were breached during the meeting in Nice, included possibilities relating to joint development of e-commerce and future improvements in passenger movement between the two countries. The Algerian side expressed its wish to ameliorate formation and training through setting up a special Academy of Customs at Oran University, Western Algeria.