ALGIERS, ALGERIA -(August 1, 2002) Yesterday, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) and the Entreprise Portuaire d'Alger (EPAL) entered into a grant agreement to fund Phase 1 of a feasibility study on the expansion of the Port of Algiers Container Facility.

Under the agreement, TDA will provide a $217,050 grant to EPAL to select and contract with a U.S. port consulting firm to assist EPAL with its infrastructure planning. The grant is a continuation of TDA's commitment to assist in the development of Algeria's key transport infrastructure facilities. U.S. Ambassador to Algeria Janet A. Sanderson signed the grant agreement on behalf of the U.S. Government, and Mr. Ali Ferrah, President-Director General of EPAL, signed on behalf of the Grantee. His Excellency Abdelmalak Sellal, Minister of Transportation of Algeria, witnessed the grant signing.

Of the eleven major multipurpose ports in Algeria, the Port of Algiers has the largest container traffic. At present, seventy percent of Algerian container traffic passes through the Port, and this activity has increased rapidly over the past seven years. EPAL plans to address the increased demand by adding additional rows for storage containers and improving cranes for lifting and stacking containers. To accommodate growth, the construction of a second container terminal has been proposed. In addition to examining the potential market for the proposed second container terminal, the feasibility study will evaluate options for increasing productivity at the existing container terminal through logistics management and information technology improvements.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency promotes American private sector participation in developing and middle-income countries, with special emphasis on economic sectors that represent significant U.S. export potential. By funding various forms of technical assistance, training grants, feasibility studies, orientation visits, and business workshops, TDA helps American businesses compete for infrastructure projects in emerging markets. In addition, the agency promotes capacity building initiatives and supports U.S. government trade, economic policy and development objectives around the world.

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