“The holding of this session aims to assess the cooperation between Algeria and Hungary, to define other areas of cooperation and to open up new prospects for partnership”, declared Mr. Henni in a speech delivered on the occasion. of the holding of this session.
“The desire of the two countries to develop a fruitful, diversified, sustainable and mutually beneficial cooperation must succeed, thanks to the implementation of concrete projects capable of enhancing our capacities to face common economic challenges in an international context of crisis induced by the repercussions of the global pandemic crisis and the repercussions of the Ukrainian-Russian conflict, particularly in terms of energy and food security”, he underlined.
On this occasion, the Minister recalled that the ties of friendship and solidarity between Algeria and Hungary date back to the Algerian War of Liberation, relations which have been consolidated in recent years by the common will of the leaders of the two countries. friends, he said.
The relations established between the two countries are historic but also special relations capable of guiding joint action in the future.
The holding of the work of this third session of the Algerian-Hungarian Mixed Commission, which was preceded by two sessions, the last of which was held in December 2017 in Algiers, reflects the solidity of the historical relations of friendship between the two countries, adds the minister.
This session is an essential milestone in laying the foundations for strong and lasting cooperation, which will make it possible to examine the ways and opportunities capable of giving a strong impetus to bilateral relations, continued Mr. Henni.
The Algerian delegation remains determined to move forward in strengthening bilateral relations and giving them a new lease of life, while maintaining friendship and trust in relations between the two countries, he said.
“Algeria and Hungary are full of considerable resources and potential, however, economic and artistic cooperation remains untapped, hence the imperative to enhance and exploit them optimally, through the realization of partnership projects. of common interest capable of creating wealth and employment in several areas”, he added.
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Algeria, he said, had begun the execution of a new economic recovery program aimed at establishing a solid, diversified economy that would create wealth and jobs, and this, by giving priority to partnership projects and of foreign investment with an opening on the world market.
He, in the same context, added that “the Algerian government has adopted new laws in order to organize economic activity, like the law on investment which has aroused the interest of several companies and partners. wishing to invest in Algeria, particularly given the low-cost energy and skilled labor that characterize the Algerian market, promising prospects for foreign investors”.
The minister underlined that Algeria, in order to achieve its objectives, “will involve its main international partners, who will have a remarkable role, in particular Hungary”.
“The establishment of a mutually beneficial partnership between Algeria and Hungary will inevitably be done through support for bilateral investments and the transfer of technology and expertise”, Mr. Henni further indicated, adding that “for this to do, it is imperative to work together to facilitate the establishment of business relations between the economic operators of the two countries”.
Mr. Henni, in the same context, expressed his wish to hold the 2nd session of the Algerian-Hungarian Business Council with a view to bringing together, once once more, employers’ organizations, chambers of commerce and business leaders to guide , define and highlight the partnership and investment opportunities offered for the two countries”.
Emphasizing the “not insignificant” role of businessmen and economic operators of the two countries, private or public, the minister called for “intensifying meetings, events and exhibitions of an economic nature with a view to concretizing partnership projects and investment, able to exploit the economic potential of both parties and meet the aspirations of their peoples”.
In terms of agriculture, Mr. Henni recalled that Algeria had adopted a well-defined strategy with a view to ensuring its food independence and moving towards the export of agricultural products, adding that through this approach the Algeria is showing its readiness to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the various agricultural fields, in addition to the agro-food industries”.
On this occasion, the Minister also highlighted “the potential that the partnership will offer in promising niches such as the genetic improvement of animal production, milk production, the development of dairy cow breeding , poultry, livestock feed and prevention of veterinary health”.
And to emphasize that “the development of partnership projects in these areas is linked to the establishment of direct relations between companies and professional organizations in the sector”.
Regarding the water resources sector, Mr. Henni specified that “there are many opportunities for cooperation and partnership between the two countries, particularly in the areas of rational water management and the development of alternative and non-conventional waters. “.
Algeria and Hungary had signed a cooperation agreement in December 2021 in Budapest for the exchange of experiences in this area, he recalled.
With regard to energy, the Minister underlined Algeria’s readiness to allow the strengthening of contacts between the companies of the two countries in order to study the opportunities and ways of cooperation and partnership, particularly in the fields of energy transition and renewable energies, adding that “cooperation in mining is also one of the important sectors to be deepened between Algeria and Hungary”.
Mr. Henni also mentioned “the opportunities for cooperation and partnership in the field of industry”, calling on the officials and professionals of the two countries to diagnose them and define them as priorities, in the best mutual interests.
With regard to tourism, the Minister indicated that Hungary “has potential in terms of therapeutic tourism, leisure and the management of thermal resorts or training, hence the availability of opportunities for cooperation which will have to be exploited by those in charge and professionals in the sector”.
He also noted that Algeria now has potential in terms of tourist investment allowing it to benefit from quality tourism in accordance with international standards.
The minister also expressed his wish to promote tourist exchanges between the two countries, through “the contacts and the promotion that we will have to concretize with the contribution of our embassies and operators specialized in the matter”, he said. .
He said that cultural events will be organized in the two countries to effectively promote the cultural and heritage values of the two countries.
In the field of higher education, human resources being the key to any fruitful cooperation, exchanges between the universities of the two countries will be developed in order to allow our students to take advantage of the progress made by our countries in this sector and to benefit from training opportunities, the Minister stressed.
To do this, “we are working to intensify scientific and technological cooperation through the mobility of researchers and the exchange of research programs between the institutes and research centers of the two countries, just as we are working to double the number of scholarships for Algerian students and researchers in Hungarian universities”, he added.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development also mentioned the possibilities of cooperation between the two countries in the field of information and communication technologies, particularly in terms of production and exchange between Algerian establishments and their Hungarian counterparts, to learn from the experiences of both countries.
After commending the efforts of the officials and experts who examined the minutes of this session on Thursday, Mr. Henni considered that this text, which will be signed on Friday, constituted “a new milestone in the realization of our aspirations and of our desire to launch a strategic cooperation between our two countries”.
These minutes are intended to be “an ambitious roadmap for the coming months, which will be implemented by the sectors which have submitted cooperation proposals, with a view to translating our common political will into concrete cooperation and partnership projects. serving our mutual interests,” he said.
Mr. Henni also reaffirmed Algeria’s desire to strengthen its cooperation with Hungary in all areas of common interest. “I think it is our duty, as officials of the two Governments, to cooperate closely in order to increase the volume of trade and to pave the way for more Hungarian direct investment in Algeria, especially in sectors such as Agriculture, Industry and Energy”, maintained the Minister.
Expressing his gratitude to the two delegations for their sustained efforts in exploring broader areas of cooperation, he underlined Algeria’s firm commitment to establishing mutually beneficial strategic cooperation with Hungary.