The eight round of bilateral relations for the accession of Algeria to the WTO is due to open January 25 in Geneva. The Algerian minister of commerce, Nouredddine Boukrouh predicted that there are no real obstacles to Algerian joining the premier world trading organization and negotiations should be complete in 2005.
There are important talks taking place on the question of competition in the energy sector, telecommunications, health and transport. Greater competition would endanger jobs at the beginning but government ministers argue that there are major long term benefits.
