ALGIERS — The Algerian Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, Youcef Cherfa, said Monday in Algiers that the 23rd International Agricultural, Livestock and Agribusiness Show (SIPSA FILAHA), which opened on Monday, served as “a major opportunity” for exchanging expertise and exploring new export markets, amid an “unprecedented” period of growth the sector has seen over the last four years.
In his speech on the occasion of the official opening of the Show, the minister said that this year’s show, running from May 26-29, mirrors the interest of domestic and international stakeholders in Algeria’s agricultural sector.
He affirmed that the reforms and the incentive measures undertaken have contributed to boosting investment and generating wealth.
Several government members were present at the opening ceremony, among whom the Minister of Domestic Trade and National Market Regulation, Tayeb Zitouni, the Minister of Foreign Trade and Export Promotion, Kamel Rezig, the Minister of Knowledge Economy, Start-ups and Micro-enterprises, Noureddine Ouadah, and the Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in charge of African Affairs, Bakhta Selma Mansouri.
Also attended the Italian Secretary of State for Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests, Luigi D’Eramo, the Minister of Fisheries and Maritime and Port Infrastructure of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Sidati Ahmed Louli, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Republic of Cameroon, Gabriel Mbairobe, the Secretary of the Ministry of Agricultural, Fisheries and Water Resources of the Sultanate of Oman Ahmed Bin Nasser Al Bakri, as well as the Zimbabwean Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Innovation, Simelizezwe Sibanda.
The Director General of the Algerian Investment Promotion Agency (AAPI), Omar Rekkache, the President of the Algerian Economic Renewal Council (CREA), Kamel Moula, were also present as well as representatives of sector-related organizations and establishments.
During this show, several main aspects were highlighted, including Saharan agriculture, date palm sector development, potato seed production, olive farming, industrial tomato cultivation and aquaculture—sectors that the minister identified as government priorities for meeting domestic market demand, boosting exports and cutting import dependency.
Cherfa underscored the importance of innovation-driven initiatives, notably through the competition dedicated to African startups, run by “Filaha Innov,” noting that fostering innovation can boost agricultural productivity and enhance continental cooperation in this field.
The official delegation visited the “Africa Food” exhibition, held as part of SIPSA, which aims to bolster food security through industrialization and promote trade between African countries under the African Continental Free Trade Area “AfCFTA.”
