Russian-Algerian business forum kicks off in Algiers
TUNIS, April 22. /TASS/. The official ceremony marking the launch of the Russian-Algerian business forum, which will run until April 24, has taken place in Algeria’s capital, a representative of the press service of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) told TASS.
The program of the forum, organized by the Russian-Algerian business council together with the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Russia and Algeria, includes a plenary meeting, business council delegation sessions, B2B talks, and the signing of agreements between companies and development institutions. Head of the Russian delegation, head of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sergey Katyrin said as he commented on the start of the forum’s work that expansion of the information exchange between business communities of Russia and Algeria promotes development of trade and economic cooperation.
"Priority tasks include improving the quality of information exchange regarding opportunities and working conditions in the markets, establishing a mechanism for verifying the reliability of companies, and creating practical formats for interaction and contact among entrepreneurs," Katyrin said. "Major international exhibitions and congresses also offer good opportunities for the development of trade and economic cooperation," he added.
In terms of trade turnover, Algeria remains one of Russia’s leading trade partners on the African continent, the CCI head noted, adding that last year the indicator reached around $2 billion. "That said, the current performance is far from showing the existing potential of trade and economic cooperation between our countries. Our main task today is to create all necessary conditions for its long-term implementation," he stressed. The increasing interest in developing business ties with Algeria from Russian small and medium-sized businesses is an important peculiarity of bilateral collaboration now, the official added. "The stability of bilateral trade and economic cooperation and the prospects of its diversification depends much on this component," he said.
On the Algerian side, the opening ceremony was attended by Minister of Foreign Trade and Export Promotion Mohamed Boukhari.
The Russian CCI’s business mission, headed by the head of the chamber, to Algeria will continue until April 25. Among its participants are over 20 Russian companies operating in the IT, industrial, pharmaceuticals, construction and energy sectors from Moscow and various Russian regions.
