Development In Border Areas as a Way to Create a Free Zone - An Evaluation Study

Abstract

This study seeks to shed light on a topic that receives great attention locally and globally, namely the development of border areas, especially in developing countries. The study focused on evaluating the efforts of the Algerian public authorities in recent years to break the isolation of these areas and develop them according to the principle of regional justice and improve the lives of their residents in all areas of life, and evaluating the development programs and strategies outlined by the government in this regard.

The case of the municipality of Taleb Al Arabi in the south of the state of El Oued was studied as a model for border areas and how the state is striving to develop it by allocating huge sums and developing vital strategies and projects to establish it as a free economic zone that attracts investors and adopts it as a gateway for importing and exporting local products to African markets and bringing in hard currency to advance the national economy outside the hydrocarbon sector. The study also sought to develop solutions and suggestions to accelerate the wheel of development in these border areas and how to address the obstacles they face.

The study concluded that the development of the Arab student border area with Tunisia is still far from what is hoped for, as it still suffers from weak infrastructure, basic facilities and equipment. It is necessary to accelerate the implementation of the strategic plans of the President of the Republic and double the efforts of the relevant authorities to prepare it and exploit the privileges and strengths of this area to become a free zone capable of attracting investors.