The Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation and the Algerian Minister of Industry co-chaired the ministerial preparatory meetings for the ninth session of the Egyptian-Algerian Joint High Committee.
Dr. Rania Al-Mashat: The strong political relations between the leaderships of the two countries drive more effective economic partnerships.
The joint committee contributes to the development and strengthening of Egyptian-Algerian strategic relations.
Agriculture, housing, electricity, and local development are among 18 documents agreed upon in expert meetings.
Egyptian companies play a pivotal role in driving development in Algeria.
Convening of the Joint Business Forum to study numerous investment opportunities for the private sector from both countries.
Commitment to holding technical committees between both sides to follow up on the implementation of the joint committee’s outcomes.
Agreement between the two countries to develop relations in health, pharmaceuticals, communications, education, tourism, and capacity building.
Algerian Minister of Industry: We look forward to increasing trade exchange rates between the two countries and Egyptian companies’ investments in Algeria.
A direct maritime line between Annaba Port in Algeria and Alexandria Port to stimulate trade exchange and cargo transport.
Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, and Mr. Yahya Bashir, Algerian Minister of Industry, chaired the ministerial-level preparatory meetings of the Egyptian-Algerian Joint High Committee in its ninth session held in Cairo, with the participation of relevant entities and ministries from both sides.
During the ministerial meeting, the Egyptian and Algerian sides reviewed expert reports and the outcomes of meetings held over the past two days between senior officials and experts, preparing for the convening of the Joint High Committee. These resulted in agreements on numerous cooperation documents, reflecting the two brotherly countries’ keenness to advance economic, trade, investment, cultural, and other relations.
The meetings finalized 18 documents in the following fields: agricultural research, housing, electricity, financial dialogue, local development, exhibitions, consumer protection, national accreditation council, national library, culture, opera house, Al-Azhar University, labor, social solidarity, youth, sports, parliamentary affairs, administration, and public service. Agreements were also reached to develop relations in health, pharmaceuticals, communications, education, tourism, capacity building, and other areas.
During the meeting, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat welcomed Mr. Yahya Bashir, Minister of Industry of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, head of the Algerian side in the ministerial committee, emphasizing the depth of relations between the two countries. This was reflected in President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s reception earlier that day of the Algerian delegation led by Mr. Saifi Gharib, Prime Minister of Algeria, reaffirming the strategic relations and deep-rooted historical ties between the two nations.
Dr. Al-Mashat highlighted Egypt’s keenness to strengthen economic, trade, and investment relations with Algeria, stressing the depth and strength of Egyptian-Algerian relations and the political understanding at the summit level between the two leaderships. She noted that the periodic convening of the Joint High Committee provides more opportunities to develop and expand strategic relations and explore further areas of cooperation, particularly through the vital role of the private sector in both countries.
She pointed out the continuous increase in trade balance between Egypt and Algeria, which rose by about 20% in 2024, reaching $1 billion compared to $872 million in 2023.
Dr. Al-Mashat also emphasized the pivotal role of the Egyptian private sector in implementing numerous projects, with Egypt fully prepared to involve its companies in Algeria’s development and infrastructure projects, given their expertise, efficiency, and speed in execution across various fields such as energy, power plants, water, tunnels, roads, bridges, and housing projects.
She noted that Algeria ranked 49th among investing countries in Egypt, with Algerian investments amounting to $54.4 million by June 2024 across 112 companies. Meanwhile, Egyptian investments in Algeria since 2001 reached $5.07 billion across 62 projects employing 7,000 Egyptian workers. Key Egyptian companies operating in Algeria include El Sewedy Electric, Arab Contractors, Petrojet, Hassan Allam, and Acrow Misr, mainly in construction and energy sectors.
She also referred to the convening of the Joint Business Forum to study numerous investment opportunities for the private sector from both countries, highlighting opportunities in fish farming, food security, and grain silos.
For his part, the Algerian Minister of Industry thanked Egypt and the organizers of the ninth session of the joint committee, as well as experts from both sides for their efforts over two days. He noted that since the previous session in 2022, many achievements have been realized, which must be valued, while challenges should be addressed. He emphasized that the successive meetings between President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, along with their directives, pave the way for advancing relations and joint projects.
He pointed to the increase in trade exchange in 2024, with expectations of surpassing $1 billion this year, expressing hope for even higher levels of trade exchange and joint investments, especially given the multiple projects implemented by Egyptian companies in Algeria such as El Sewedy Electric and Orascom.
He added that the Joint Business Council between the two countries will help identify more investments and joint projects, noting that both countries agreed to open a direct maritime line between Algeria Port and Alexandria Port to facilitate trade and cargo movement.
He also highlighted Egyptian companies’ contributions to housing projects, stressing that more companies are welcome to participate in Algeria’s tenders, while cooperation extends to higher education, religious affairs, and culture.
He concluded: “This continuous momentum in strong relations drives more work to increase partnership opportunities that both countries abound with. The Joint High Committee represents a tool to shape cooperation opportunities constructively and effectively.”
During the committee meeting, both sides discussed ongoing arrangements with Egyptian entities to hold a Joint Business Forum on the sidelines of the Egyptian-Algerian Joint High Committee meetings, as well as ways to enhance cooperation and exchange expertise in more than 20 development fields, including small, medium, and micro enterprises, creating a favorable climate for increased investments, industrial integration, renewable energy, housing and contracting, cooperation in religious affairs, and agricultural expertise exchange, among others.
