Qatari-Algerian Relations... Model for Political Consensus, Strategic Partnership

Algiers, November 01 (QNA) - The Qatari-Algerian relations are historic and growing. Honed by decades of cooperation and synergy between the leaderships of the two countries, the relations stem from a firm belief in the goal of unity and a common destiny, based on solid foundations, and strong and sincere ties linking the two countries and people in many political, social and economic fields. Relations between the two sides strengthened and expanded, becoming firmly established through a series of mutual visits between the leaderships of the two countries. The last visit was in June with HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's keenness to attend the opening ceremony of the 19th Oran 2022 Mediterranean Games in Oran and His Highness' meeting with HE President of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Abdelmadjid Tebboune. During the meeting, they reviewed the relations of cooperation between the two countries and ways to support and develop them, as well as several issues and developments of common interest. HH the Amir's visit was preceded by the state visit of HE President of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Abdelmadjid Tebboune to Qatar in February. During the visit, HH the Amir and HE Algerian President, held extensive official talks session on bilateral relations and ways to enhance and develop them in various fields. The two sides exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues and affirmed efforts to coordinate their positions to serve their interests and enhance security and stability in the region and the world. These discussions reflected the depth of bilateral relations and the congruence of the two countries' views at the bilateral level. The two sides expressed their satisfaction with the consultation and coordination between the two countries and looked forward to strengthening them at all levels. They also commended the distinguished cooperation relations and looked forward to upgrading them in all fields, especially in the economic, commercial, and gas sectors. In this context, HE President Abdelmadjid Tebboune reiterated his gratitude to HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, for the State of Qatar's support to the Algerian candidate who was elected Secretary-General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum. The two leaders emphasized the real and diverse opportunities available in the two countries to enhance cooperation by enabling opportunities for investment integration and establishing partnerships, as well as increasing and diversifying the volume of trade exchange. The two sides reviewed the changing developments in the international arena and their repercussions on the Arab region, stressing the need to establish balanced international relations that would be governed by the Charter of the United Nations and the principles established in this framework. They also stressed the importance of upholding the values of unity and solidarity among Arab countries to overcome the various current crises that the region is going through and agreed to support and strengthen frameworks and mechanisms for joint Arab action regarding future entitlements, especially the upcoming Arab Summit in Algeria. In this regard, HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani valued the efforts of HE President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and his keenness on providing an atmosphere conducive to the success of this summit, stressing the readiness of the State of Qatar to support these good endeavors and contribute to achieving the desired results, especially in light of the common challenges facing the Arab countries at various levels. With regard to the central issue of the Arab nation, the two leaders reviewed prospects for mobilizing more international support for the Palestinian cause in a manner that preserves the rights of the Palestinian people and ensures the establishment of their independent state on the 1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. They also stressed the importance of achieving Palestinian national unity and the endeavor launched by Algeria in this regard to complement the sincere efforts made by many Arab countries, especially the State of Qatar, to achieve the desired progress towards this supreme goal. The two leaders also discussed the most important crises that threaten peace and security in the Arab region and stressed the consensus of the two countries positions on the need to formulate peaceful solutions that achieve the aspirations of the peoples concerned and distance their countries from the dangers of foreign interference. In addition, the two discussed the crisis of COVID-19 and ways to encourage the trend toward Arab countries possessing the elements of health security and self-sufficiency in this field. During the visit, HH the Amir and HE Algerian President witnessed the signing of an agreement, two memoranda of understanding, and an executive program between the two countries. HH the Amir and HE the Algerian President witnessed the signing of an agreement on legal and judicial cooperation in criminal matters between the two governments, a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of political consultations and coordination between the two countries' foreign ministries, as well as a memorandum of understanding in the areas of social development and the family between the two governments. They also witnessed the signing of the second executive program in the field of higher education, scientific and technological research of the educational and scientific cooperation agreement between the two countries governments for the academic years (2022-2025). These reciprocal visits and the likes carried out by ministers and senior officials from the two countries confirm the great keenness to support, advance, and strengthen these relations in all sectors, which is reflected in the results of the 5th meeting of the joint Qatari-Algerian supreme committee held in Doha in November 2014. Qatari-Algerian relations have their distinct features. The two countries are among the world's largest exporters of natural gas and are pivotal countries within the Arab League and the regional environment. The Qatari-Algerian relations are united by common visions, positions, and firm principles toward bilateral and national interests, and regional and international issues aimed at enhancing peace and security. In July, the State of Qatar was keen to participate in Algeria's 60th Independence Day anniversary celebrations in presence of HE President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. HE Minister of State Sheikh Fahad Bin Faisal Al-Thani represented the State of Qatar in the celebrations. The visit of HH the Amir to Algeria in February 2020 also contributed to the consolidation of cooperation between the two countries at all levels, especially at the economic and investment levels, which are witnessing steady and rapid growth. In exclusive statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Algerian academic researcher and political analyst, Dr. Ali Gaboussa said that Qatari-Algerian relations have witnessed a remarkable development since HE President Abdelmadjid Tebboune assumed the presidency, as HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani was the first to congratulate him. The convergence of views between Qatar and Algeria on many regional and international issues enabled the creation of very close relations between the two countries, he added. The Qatari-Algerian relations are deep-rooted and have significant positive repercussions for the benefit of the two countries. There is no doubt that the two countries constitute an important strategic dimension for both of them, he highlighted. The recent dynamic witnessed by the Qatari-Algerian relations, according to Rachid Cherchar, a member of the National People's Assembly (lower house of Algerian Parliament), would open the door to further strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries, launching them towards broader horizons in various fields. Additionally, it constitutes a push to intensify the efforts of the two countries to serve Arab issues and promote joint Arab action to face the current challenges. Cherchar added, in exclusive statements to QNA, that the Qatari-Algerian relations set an example. The relations came as a culmination of many steps taken by the two countries, which confirms their keenness to support bilateral relations and to look seriously and objectively at prospects for fruitful cooperation. In this regard, he noted the exchange of visits at the highest level between the two countries. In similar statements to QNA, Dr. Abdelkader Berriche, a member of the National People's Assembly (lower house of Algerian Parliament) praised the fraternal relations between Qatar and Algeria, stressing that these relations embody the spirit of Arab brotherhood and are a model for what Arab-Arab relations should be. The mutual visits at the leaderships' level will push for more cooperation and strategic partnership and will positively affect the strengthening of joint Arab action, the member of the National People's Assembly added. The Qatari-Algerian relations regulate many agreements, memoranda of understanding and protocols, which include cooperation in the fields of economy and trade, industry, energy, mining and investment, agriculture and tourism, health and sports, customs, maritime transport, and military cooperation, in addition to the sectors of culture, media, sports, urban planning, as well as cooperation in the legal and judicial fields, economic control, combating commercial fraud, avoiding double taxation, fishing, water resources and natural reserves. These agreements strengthened and consolidated the brotherly relations between the two countries and upgraded them from the stage of bilateral cooperation to an ambitious strategic partnership that is confident in achieving its goals and the success of its projects. Algeria is one of the investment destinations of interest to Qatari businessmen. In recent years, a number of Qatari investment projects have been established in Algeria, most notably the Algerian-Qatari Steel Company (Bellara Steel Complex) located northeast of Algiers. The project, which covers an area of about 216 hectares, a cost of approximately two billion dollars and a production capacity of 4 million tons of steel, is intended to produce high quality iron using natural gas. This brought the company a global reputation and enabled it to conclude agreements with international companies for export. The project is considered one of the most important strategic partnership projects in the economic field between the two countries. The investments of the pioneering group "Ooredoo" in the telecommunications sector, also achieved remarkable success in Algeria. There are many important investments for Qatari businessmen in several fields such as agriculture, tourism, services, environment and other fields. Qatar is considered one of the largest investors in the Algerian market, as it is a promising market that is full of many opportunities that attract any investor. The efforts of the chambers of the two countries have contributed to opening new areas of cooperation between the private sector, thus establishing partnerships and alliances that serve the economy of both sides. The first meeting of the Qatari-Algerian Business Council last April was an important event that would reflect positively on the volume of trade and investment exchange between the two countries. There are dozens of joint Qatari-Algerian companies operating in the Qatari market. They are expected to increase during the coming period, especially with the availability of many investment opportunities in various economic sectors, especially small and medium industries, in light of the capabilities of the two countries. Algeria possess an important geographic location between the European and African continents, and it has distinguished relations with the countries of both continents. The Algerian market has natural potentials ranging from climatic diversity and agricultural lands, in addition to the availability of specialized and skilled Algerian labor, which provides a lot of investment possibilities and opportunities in various sectors such as mining, medicine, tourism, industry, services and agriculture. There are 169 Algerian companies operating in Qatar, including two wholly owned by the Algerian side and 167 companies with Qatari-Algerian joint capital. Algeria and Qatar seek to give a qualitative leap for economic and trade cooperation between the two countries by signing several cooperation agreements in various fields, including a memorandum of understanding regarding the feasibility study for the expansion of the factory of the Algerian-Qatari Steel Company (Bellara Complex) with the aim of moving to the second stage of the production level, which is expected to raise the factory’s production capacity to 4 million tons annually, in addition to developing cooperation and exchanging experiences in the field of higher education, scientific and technological research by signing the second executive program 2022-2025, a memorandum of understanding for the exchange of experiences in the family sector and social development and an agreement on judicial cooperation in criminal matters. Qatar is the largest Arab investor in Algeria. It is one of the investment destinations that receive the attention of Qatari businessmen. In recent years, a number of Qatari investment projects have been established in Algeria. Last June, the Qatari Businessmen Association discussed, with the Algerian Chamber of Industry and Commerce and some ministers during their visit to Algeria, opportunities to enhance investment cooperation between the two countries. During the Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune's reception, HE Chairman of the Associations Board of Directors Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al-Thani stressed on the Qatari side's desire to invest in Algeria as it has all natural ingredients and human resources, announcing several projects and agreements that will see the light soon. In this regard, Algerian economic expert Abd al-Malek Saray said, in statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA), that Qatar and Algeria have all the encouraging elements to achieve the partnership that the two sides aspire to. Algeria should direct its partnership with Qatar towards strategic sectors such as agriculture, industry and tourism in order to benefit from the great Qatari experience in the field of manufacturing, tourism, digitization and others, he added. Both countries possess the ingredients for the success of this partnership, as Algeria considers its economy an open economy and has a large number of investment opportunities, especially with the issuance of the new investment law, in addition to the fact that Algeria is still a promising market for Qatar. President of the Confederation of Algerian Industrialists, Abdelwahab Ziani said in a similar statements to (QNA) that the Algerian-Qatari economic relations are distinguished and mutually beneficial. He pointed out that the frameworks of bilateral cooperation between the two countries will also be prompted by legislation, especially the new investment law recently approved by Algeria to encourage investment, which will provide Qatari investors with promising opportunities that will benefit the two countries and people. The Algerian economist Abdal-Rahman Hadef said to QNA that the Qatari-Algerian economic relations are only a reflection of the level of political and diplomatic relations, especially since the two countries believe in the same trends on many issues. The most important sectors that could be the axes of future partnership between Algeria and Qatar are energy, renewable energies, construction, textile, tourism, manufacturing, automobiles, spare parts and health through establishment of Qatari hospitals and clinics for treatment in Algeria, he noted. Head of the Algerian Center for Economic Foresight, Investment Development and Entrepreneurship, Akram Zaidi said to QNA that the Qatari-Algerian relations are in continuous progress, in light of the interest of the two countries' leaders in these relations. There is a special Algerian interest in relations with Qatar, which was one of the main stations of the foreign visits of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and there is great keenness in Algeria to build a real partnership with the State of Qatar in the fields of trade and investment, he noted. The future of the partnership between the two countries is promising in light of the great potentials that the two countries enjoy and the understanding and consensus at the political levels regarding national interests and priorities, he added. The prospects for future economic and investment cooperation between Qatar and Algeria are promising in light of the capabilities of the two countries. Qatar is one of the strongest economies in the region, while Algeria enjoys natural potentials ranging from climatic diversity and agricultural lands, as well as the availability of specialized and skilled Algerian labor, which provides a lot of possibilities and investment opportunities in various sectors such as mining, pharmaceuticals, tourism, industry, services and agriculture. (QNA)