The 23rd session of the Algerian-Tunisian Joint Commission for Cooperation opened Friday in Tunis, co-chaired by Algeria’s Prime Minister, Sifi Ghrieb, and Tunisia’s Prime Minister, Sarra Zaafrani.
As part of the meetings, a joint Economic Forum was held Thursday under the co-chairmanship of Ghrieb and Tunisian Prime Minister Zaafrani and business leaders participated in discussions focused on investment and partnership opportunities, particularly in the sectors of industry, energy and tourism.
In his opening address, Ghrieb welcomed the progress achieved in the level of economic cooperation between Algeria and Tunisia, calling for “a new chapter of economic partnership” in light of the strong bilateral political convergence guided by both countries’ leadership.
Zaafrani emphasized the “reality of fraternal relations” between the two countries, stressing that these ties and their shared history “form a motivation and a solid basis for establishing new mutually beneficial partnerships in the service of both peoples and their aspirations.”
Seven partnership agreements were signed on the sidelines of the forum between Algerian and Tunisian companies in fields including textiles, food industries and tourism. A cooperation agreement was also concluded between the Algerian Council for Economic Renewal (CREA) and Tunisia’s Union of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA). Additional agreements between private-sector actors are expected in the coming days.
At the close of the forum, Algeria’s Minister of Trade and Export Promotion, Kamel Rezig, underlined that the deep historical and fraternal ties between the two countries reflect a shared determination to advance bilateral cooperation toward a comprehensive strategic partnership. He noted that although current trade volumes do not yet meet the ambitions of the two sides, trade has grown by more than 42 percent over the past three years. The forum, he added, offered “an opportunity to outline a new vision of economic cooperation based on efficiency, rapid implementation and mutual viability.”
For his part, Tunisia’s Minister of Trade and Export Development, Samir Abid, described the event as an important step enabling both sides “to explore possibilities for establishing strategic partnerships within the deeply rooted fraternal relations between the two countries.” The forum, he said, provides “a privileged space to strengthen partnership between the private sectors,” noting that Algeria and Tunisia “are moving together toward a new phase of their economic and commercial partnership.”
The forum also featured bilateral meetings between ministers from both sides, who examined ways to enhance cooperation and elevate the level of bilateral partnership. Energy and mining, interior affairs, transport, equipment, housing, finance, industry, pharmaceuticals, sports and agriculture were among the sectors discussed.
