ALGIERS, February 18, 2025 – Mourad Adjal, the CEO of Algerian power company Sonelgaz, met with a delegation from the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) on Monday in Algiers to discuss potential cooperation and partnership opportunities between Sonelgaz and Japanese firms, as stated by the public group.
The meeting took place at Sonelgaz’s headquarters and included participation from the Japanese ambassador to Algeria, Suzuki Kotaro, as well as senior executives from the company. The delegation comprised representatives from 15 Japanese companies and was led by Akihiko Aki Tamura, the CEO of JETRO Europe.
This meeting is part of a working visit undertaken by the Japanese delegation to Algeria to explore various economic sectors, particularly the energy sector, and aligns with Sonelgaz’s efforts to strengthen cooperative relationships with Japanese business operators.
During the discussions, both parties underscored the deep historical ties between Algeria and Japan. Adjal emphasized “the commitment of the country’s highest authorities to promote the presence of Japanese companies in the Algerian market, which offers a favorable business climate.”
On this occasion, the head of Sonelgaz reviewed the company’s expertise and experience in the energy sector, particularly in the production, transport, and distribution of electricity and gas, as well as its activities in the electric and gas industries and services related to energy and equipment exports.
Adjal also highlighted strategic projects currently underway, including the renewable energy program, the north-south interconnection project, and the electrical connection initiative between the Algerian and Italian grids, aimed at exporting clean electricity to Europe via Italy. He expressed a desire to leverage the experience and expertise of Japanese companies to realize these projects.
In turn, the Japanese ambassador to Algeria praised the willingness of the country’s top authorities to welcome Japanese investors, noting that Japanese officials share a similar vision with their Algerian counterparts regarding the significant investment opportunities available in the Algerian market, particularly through Sonelgaz.
The ambassador clarified that the working visit by the Japanese company delegation is part of broader efforts to expand areas of partnership and investment.
In this context, Sonelgaz’s CEO proposed the establishment of a working group to study and assess cooperation opportunities between Sonelgaz and Japanese companies, as well as to draft a memorandum of understanding that would govern this collaboration and expedite progress on partnership projects aimed at revitalizing economic relations between the two countries.
The group noted in its statement that a working meeting occurred between representatives from the 15 Japanese companies and Sonelgaz executives, during which an action plan was agreed upon to explore the potential for this cooperation.
