Algiers – Italy will help Algeria modernize and develop its railway infrastructure. To be precise, it will do as much through the cooperation agreement signed between Italferr, the Italian FS Group engineering company, and Anesrif, the Algerian government agency for the implementation of the railway investment program. The first action of the agreement begins with the training program through which Italferr will train Algerian Anesrif engineers. According to the contract signed between human resources responsible Esther Marconi and the Director General of Anesrif Azeddine Fridi, Italferr will later participate at 49% in a newly-established Algerian-registered company. The aim is to ensure observance of the latest standards in delivering engineering services for projects, construction supervision, and the commissioning of the infrastructure included in the ambitious modernization plan of Algerian railways. The plan features the construction of over 5200 km of lines for an estimated value of $32 billion. (9Colonne)