Algeria-Russia: Preparatory Meeting for the 12th Session of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Commercial, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation

The preparatory meeting of experts for the 12th session of the Algeria-Russia Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Commercial, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation began on Tuesday in Algiers. This session is scheduled to take place next Thursday, co-chaired by Youcef Cherfa, Algerian Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Fisheries, and Dmitry Patrushev, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia.

The opening of this preparatory meeting was jointly led by Toufik Djouama, Director General for Europe at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad, and African Affairs, and Pavel Kalmychek, Director of the Bilateral Cooperation Development Department at the Russian Ministry of Economic Development. The meeting was also attended by Algeria’s Ambassador to Russia, Boumédiène Guennad, Alexey Kotcheshkov, Chargé d’Affaires at the Russian Embassy, along with officials and experts from various ministries, agencies, and businesses representing both countries.

In his opening remarks, Djouama emphasized that this session aims to “strengthen dialogue and high-level consultations between the two countries, enhance the framework for bilateral cooperation, and reinforce the ties between Algerian and Russian enterprises.”

He highlighted that the organization of this meeting occurs within “a very positive bilateral context characterized by an upward dynamic in relations, due to significant measures taken by Algeria and Russia in recent years. This progress reflects our mutual commitment to fortify our promising bilateral relations under the leadership of Presidents Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Vladimir Putin.”

Djouama noted that this session represents “a new opportunity to solidify the foundations of bilateral cooperation and deepen economic and technical collaboration in several areas of common interest.”

He also recalled the Declaration of Strategic Partnership signed by the presidents of both countries during President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s official visit to Russia in June 2023, which has “provided a fresh impetus to bilateral relations, imparting a deeper strategic dimension.”

Emphasizing the shared desire to establish a mutually beneficial partnership, Djouama invited Russian companies to invest in Algeria and to seize the opportunities presented by the new investment law, as well as the incentives offered by the authorities to encourage foreign direct investments. He underscored that Algeria’s membership in the African Continental Free Trade Area positions the country as “an ideal gateway to the African market.”

For his part, Pavel Kalmychek reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to “intensifying bilateral cooperation and expanding partnership areas with Algeria across various economic, scientific, and cultural sectors,” noting that “Algeria is one of Russia’s key partners and an important player in Africa.”

He further pointed out “significant opportunities to broaden dialogue and cooperation with Algeria,” emphasizing “the interest of Russian companies in investing in Algeria and signing additional agreements in various economic fields to increase trade volume between the two countries.”

The Russian official underscored the importance of collaboration in higher education between Russian and Algerian universities, highlighting his country’s eagerness to expand this partnership through agreements that facilitate the accommodation of students and researchers.

Participants in this preparatory meeting will spend two days assessing the implementation of decisions made during the 11th session of the Joint Commission, which took place in Moscow on October 25 and 26, 2023.

Working groups will be formed to review and discuss various proposals for cooperation and partnership, as well as strategies to strengthen and diversify these efforts.

Both parties are committed to enhancing cooperative relations and bilateral investments across multiple sectors, including agriculture, rural development, fishing, trade, industry, energy and mining, finance, transportation, public works and infrastructure, housing and urban planning, higher education and scientific research, education, postal services and telecommunications, health, tourism, crafts, and the environment.

The session will conclude with the signing of a memorandum that outlines a joint roadmap for economic, commercial, scientific, and technical cooperation between the two countries.