2023-10-03 20:50:00
ALGIERS- Prime Minister Aïmene Benabderrahmane co-chaired, Tuesday in Algiers, the opening of the Algerian-Tunisian Economic Business Forum alongside the Head of the Tunisian Government, Ahmed Hachani, stressing that this meeting will mark a new start for the bilateral partnership in different domains.
In his speech on the occasion, Mr. Benabderrahmane affirmed that all conditions were met for “a new start of the bilateral partnership, from this room and from tomorrow, on the occasion of bilateral meetings, with a view to establishing fruitful partnerships, forge permanent business ties and conclude mutually beneficial deals”.
The Prime Minister said he was convinced that “this forum will mark the beginning of a new era in economic and commercial relations linking the two countries, Algerian operators and investors and their Tunisian brothers.”
“Tunisia is the neighboring country with which we maintain historical relations and diverse and solid socio-cultural links, in addition to our excellent political relations which are an example of excellence in the Arab and African regions,” recalled Mr. Benabderrahmane, adding that Tunisia is “one of Algeria’s most important economic partners in terms of volume of investments and trade.”
On the commercial level, Algeria is Tunisia’s most important trading partner in Africa and the Arab world, he highlighted, noting that “during the first seven months of the current year, trade between the two countries increased by 54%. The figure, he continues, “should increase in the months and years to come thanks to the efforts that we will make together to coordinate policies and iron out difficulties, whatever their nature.”
“Increasing the volume of bilateral trade and their expansion constitute a common objective which has always been favorably welcomed, supported and valued in the various bilateral meetings, the latest being the 5th Algerian-Tunisian Joint Commission for Monitoring Trade trade, held in Tunis in mid-September,” he said.
This objective, he continued, can only be achieved by establishing mutually beneficial partnerships, in strategic sectors such as Energy, renewable energies, Industry, Agriculture, construction materials, pharmaceutical products, medical equipment, Environment, waste recycling and subcontracting.
The Prime Minister also estimated that the accession of Algeria and Tunisia to the African Continental Free Trade Area (ZLECAF), which should increase Africa’s overall income by 7% and African exports by 560 billion dollars, particularly in the industrial sector, offered promising prospects for joint investment and exports to African states.
As for investment, “Algeria has 42 Tunisian investment projects, direct and via partnership, including 38 implemented in the sectors of agriculture, construction, industry and transport services. a value of around 14 billion DA,” said the Prime Minister.
Mr. Benabderrahmane, in this context, emphasized “the particular interest given to investment in Algeria which was noted by numerous economic operators who contacted the Algerian Investment Promotion Agency ( AAPI)”.
The holding of the forum takes place, he added, on the sidelines of “a major political event”, namely the holding of the 22nd session of the Grand Mixed Commission for Algerian-Tunisian Cooperation, and in favor of “the great will and determination of the leaders of the two countries, the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune and his brother, President Kaïs Saïed, with a view to giving a new dynamic to cooperation and partnership between the two countries and raising them to perspectives and at higher levels, commensurate with the enormous capabilities that both countries have.
This coincides, continues Mr. Benabderrahmane, with an “unprecedented” local context of economic reforms and substantive amendments having affected the legal system relating to the business climate in Algeria and investments.
Mr. Benabderrahmane recalled, in this context, the new structures and infrastructures that Algeria has continued to develop, in a methodical manner for the best economic integration with African states, highlighting the importance of open Algerian banks and permanent fairs in these countries.
The Prime Minister also announced the upcoming opening of an Algerian bank in Ivory Coast, following the recent opening of two banks in Nouakchott and Dakar.
He highlighted, on this occasion, the concern of the Algerian Government to move forward towards an effective realization on the ground of the development objectives, as well as the overall plan whose contours were drawn by the President of the Republic, according to a promising and ambitious economic program which tends to revive and diversify exports and consolidate the national product on international markets, through better exploitation of partnership opportunities with sister and friendly States.
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