On November 21, a meeting of the Russian-Algerian Business Council was held at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation. In a roundtable format, the participants discussed the prospects for business cooperation between the two countries. Algeria, the largest country in Africa, is one of Russia's most significant partners on the continent.
The meeting was attended by Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation Vladimir Padalko , Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Algeria to the Russian Federation Gennad Boumediene , Director of the Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences Irina Abramova , Director of the Department for the Development of Bilateral Cooperation of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Pavel Kalmychek . The discussion was moderated by Chairman of the Board of the ANO "Center for International Strategic Initiatives" Akhmed Azimov , who was elected Chairman of the Russian-Algerian Business Council in October 2024.
Opening the meeting, Vice President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vladimir Padalko spoke about the key events that have been held by business circles in recent years.
“We advocate moving from simple transactions to complex cooperation, which is based on industrial cooperation, joint scientific developments, mutual investments and joint work in the territory of third countries,” noted the Vice President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Vladimir Padalko reported that a cooperation agreement has been in force between the Russian and Algerian Chambers of Commerce and Industry for almost 15 years. The chambers exchange information on the specifics of business in both countries and help strengthen partnerships between enterprises.
“We, as the Chamber, promise to help businesses in terms of information exchange, protection of Russian interests in Algeria, including through arbitration, mediation, provision of advisory and other support,” added Vladimir Padalko.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Algeria to the Russian Federation Boumediene Guennad reminded the participants that this year Algeria is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the war for liberation from France. Algeria's independence from France was officially proclaimed on July 5, 1962.
Boumediene Guennad declared the full readiness of the Algerian Embassy in Russia to work together to develop bilateral relations in the sphere of economics and trade.
“The Algerian government is currently developing various programs to stimulate investment, including from entrepreneurs from Russia,” said the Algerian ambassador to the Russian Federation.
Director of the Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences Irina Abramova informed the participants about the implementation of the Declaration on Deep Strategic Partnership, which has taken Russian-Algerian relations to a new qualitative level. She listed the most promising areas for the development of interstate relations, and drew attention to the current problems with logistics and payments. According to Irina Abramova, Algeria and Russia are very similar in many respects:
"First of all, they are large suppliers and owners of mineral and raw materials, energy resources. Here it is important for us to build relationships not of competition, but of partnership, which is what we have been doing in recent years," concluded Irina Abramova.
Pavel Kalmychek, Director of the Department for the Development of Bilateral Cooperation of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, noted a significant increase in the interest of Russian entrepreneurs in Algeria. Thus, in 2023, trade turnover between the Russian Federation and Algeria almost doubled, amounting to $3.7 billion. At the same time, analysts of the Ministry estimated the unrealized trade potential of the two countries at another $9 billion.
“This is the analysis that allows us to look to the future with optimism,” emphasized Pavel Kalmychek.
The representative of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development added that preparations are currently underway for a meeting of the Russian-Algerian intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation, which will take place at the end of January 2025.
During the meeting, the following also spoke: Deputy Director for Research at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vasily Kuznetsov , Deputy Chairman of the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Russia Ruslan Abbyasov , First Deputy General Director for Strategy and Development of the Delo Group of Companies Alexander Iodchin , and representatives of expert and professional communities.
The final part included a discussion of the proposals formulated by the participants and organizational issues of the activities of the Russian-Algerian Business Council. Following the discussion, a resolution was adopted defining the main areas of further cooperation between the two countries.
Press Service of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, D. Bordyugov