Russia–Algeria: an effective strategic partnership
Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak took part in the opening of the Russia–Algeria: an effective strategic partnership economic forum.
Alexander Novak stressed that Russia highly valued its partnership relations with the Algerian people. “At today’s meeting between Algeria’s Prime Minister Mr. Sellal and the Russian Prime Minister Medvedev, both sides reiterated their desire to develop bilateral cooperation and facilitate establishment of business contacts across all areas. This is a milestone event marking a new stage in the relations between our two nations”, the Russian Minister of Energy said.
Alexander Novak pointed out that the Russian–Algerian Forum was yet another important stage in the development of economic ties between Russia and Algeria. “The Algerian delegation includes more than 200 entrepreneurs interested in developing business ties in fuel and energy, agriculture, construction and other economic sectors”, the Minister added.
According to Alexander Novak, the interest in developing business ties is being expressed as trade between Russia and Algeria grows. “Our trade rose 130% over the last year, from USD 885.3 m in 2014 to USD 2 bn in 2015. The positive trade growth trend continued in the first quarter of 2016, too”, the Russian Minister of Energy said.
Speaking about further expansion of economic ties, Alexander Novak noted that an intergovernmental dialogue was being conducted on a regular basis as part of the Mixed Intergovernmental Russia–Algerian Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation. The next – eighth – meeting of the Commission is scheduled for late September next year in Algeria.
Alexander Novak also pointed out Russia’s interest in attracting Algerian businesses, including agricultural producers, to Russia.
To conclude, the Minister of Energy invited representatives of the Algerian delegation to the St. Petersburg Economic Forum. “I would like to use this occasion to invite our Algerian colleagues to the 20th Anniversary St. Petersburg Economic Forum, which will take place 16–18 June 2016 in St. Petersburg at the new Expoforum venue. The Forum’s programme includes a variety of discussions on urgent aspects of developing the global and Russian economies and expositions of investment projects and products, as well as presentations and meetings with leading world experts. The Forum accommodates the signing of many contracts and agreements every year and presents a unique opportunity for communicating and establishing business ties with representatives of all Russian regions and many other countries”.
Following the Forum opening ceremony, a number of bilateral documents were signed in the presence of Russian Federation Energy Minister Alexander Novak and Algeria’s Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal.
Source: http://minenergo.gov.ru
