Melilla Pushes for Maritime Link to Algeria to Boost Tourism and Trade

Abdeslam Mohamed Mimun, president of the Acsemel employers’ organization, called on the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs to "help Melilla in order to open a maritime line with Algeria", deploring the lack of support from other political actors in Melilla. He denounces the "silence" of the representative of the central government, the elected officials of Melilla in the Spanish Parliament, as well as the regional government, who have not taken a stand on this project. "Our city cannot depend solely on aid and subsidies," insists the Acsemel boss, relayed by the local newspaper Melilla Hoy.

For the business leader "Melilla, gateway to Europe, could become a great business platform" explaining that the maritime line with Algeria is really essential for the economy of the enclave "provided that we listen to those who are really concerned about the situation".

In the same vision, the president of the Melilla port authority, Victor Gamero, urged a few days ago the regional governor Eduardo de Castro to convince the central power in Madrid of the importance of this line opening.

"What we want is for the same regime that we have with Morocco to be applied with Algeria in order to allow its citizens to access Melilla with just their passport or a simple multiple exit visa," Victor Gamero told the newspaper. The supporters of this project are also ready to attract Algerian investors through administrative facilitations.