On November 21, a meeting of the Russian-Algerian Business Council was held at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation. Conducting a round table, the participants discussed the prospects of 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 Vladimir Padalko - Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, Boumediene Guennad - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Algeria to the Russian Federation, Irina Abramova - Director of the Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pavel Kalmychek - Director of the Department for the Development of Bilateral Cooperation of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. The discussion was moderated by Ahmed Azimov, Chairman of the Board of the Autonomous Nonprofit Organization “Center for International Strategic Initiatives”, who was elected Chairman of the Russian-Algerian Business Council in October 2024.
In his opening speech, Vladimir Padalko, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, spoke about the key events that have been held by the business community in recent years.
"We advocate that we move from simple transactions to complex cooperation, which is tied to industrial cooperation, joint scientific research, mutual investments and joint work on the territory of third countries," said the Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation.
Vladimir Padalko said that a cooperation agreement has been in force between the CCI of the Russian Federation and the Algerian CCI for almost 15 years. The Chambers exchange information on the specifics of the business of both countries, contribute to strengthening 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, providing advisory services and other support," Vladimir Padalko added.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Algeria to the Russian Federation Boumediene Guennad reminded the participants that this year Algeria is celebrating the 70th anniversary since the beginning of the war of 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 field of economy and trade.
"The Algerian government is currently developing various programs to stimulate investment, including from Russian entrepreneurs," the Algerian Ambassador to the Russian Federation said.
Irina Abramova, Director of the Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences, informed the participants about the implementation of the Declaration on In-Depth 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, 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 major suppliers and owners of mineral and energy resources. It is important for us to build relations not of competition, but of partnership, which is exactly what we have been doing in recent years," Irina Abramova concluded.
Pavel Kalmychek, Director of the Department for the Development of Bilateral Cooperation at the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, noted a significant increase in the interest of Russian entrepreneurs in Algeria. Thus, in 2023, the trade turnover between Russia and Algeria almost doubled, amounting to $3.7 billion. At the same time, the Ministry's analysts estimated the untapped trade potential of the two countries at another $9 billion.
"This is the analysis that allows us to be optimistic about the future," Pavel Kalmychek pointed out.
The representative of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia added that preparations are currently underway for the meeting of the Russian-Algerian intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation, which will be held at the end of January 2025.
Other speakers during the meeting were Vasily Kuznetsov, Deputy Director for Scientific Work at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Rushan Abbyasov, Deputy Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia, Alexander Iodchin, First Deputy Director General for Strategy and Development of “Delo Group”, representatives of the expert and professional communities.
In the final part, the participants discussed the proposals and organizational issues of the Russian-Algerian Business Council. Following the discussion, a resolution was adopted defining the main directions for further cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting was attended by Vladimir Padalko - Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, Boumediene Guennad - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Algeria to the Russian Federation, Irina Abramova - Director of the Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pavel Kalmychek - Director of the Department for the Development of Bilateral Cooperation of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. The discussion was moderated by Ahmed Azimov, Chairman of the Board of the Autonomous Nonprofit Organization “Center for International Strategic Initiatives”, who was elected Chairman of the Russian-Algerian Business Council in October 2024.
In his opening speech, Vladimir Padalko, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, spoke about the key events that have been held by the business community in recent years.
"We advocate that we move from simple transactions to complex cooperation, which is tied to industrial cooperation, joint scientific research, mutual investments and joint work on the territory of third countries," said the Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation.
Vladimir Padalko said that a cooperation agreement has been in force between the CCI of the Russian Federation and the Algerian CCI for almost 15 years. The Chambers exchange information on the specifics of the business of both countries, contribute to strengthening 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, providing advisory services and other support," Vladimir Padalko added.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Algeria to the Russian Federation Boumediene Guennad reminded the participants that this year Algeria is celebrating the 70th anniversary since the beginning of the war of 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 field of economy and trade.
"The Algerian government is currently developing various programs to stimulate investment, including from Russian entrepreneurs," the Algerian Ambassador to the Russian Federation said.
Irina Abramova, Director of the Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences, informed the participants about the implementation of the Declaration on In-Depth 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, 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 major suppliers and owners of mineral and energy resources. It is important for us to build relations not of competition, but of partnership, which is exactly what we have been doing in recent years," Irina Abramova concluded.
Pavel Kalmychek, Director of the Department for the Development of Bilateral Cooperation at the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, noted a significant increase in the interest of Russian entrepreneurs in Algeria. Thus, in 2023, the trade turnover between Russia and Algeria almost doubled, amounting to $3.7 billion. At the same time, the Ministry's analysts estimated the untapped trade potential of the two countries at another $9 billion.
"This is the analysis that allows us to be optimistic about the future," Pavel Kalmychek pointed out.
The representative of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia added that preparations are currently underway for the meeting of the Russian-Algerian intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation, which will be held at the end of January 2025.
Other speakers during the meeting were Vasily Kuznetsov, Deputy Director for Scientific Work at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Rushan Abbyasov, Deputy Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia, Alexander Iodchin, First Deputy Director General for Strategy and Development of “Delo Group”, representatives of the expert and professional communities.
In the final part, the participants discussed the proposals and organizational issues of the Russian-Algerian Business Council. Following the discussion, a resolution was adopted defining the main directions for further cooperation between the two countries.
The discussion was moderated by Ahmed Azimov, Chairman of the Board of the Autonomous Nonprofit Organization “Center for International Strategic Initiatives”, who was elected Chairman of the Russian-Algerian Business Council in October 2024.
Press service of the CCI of the Russian Federation, D. Bordyugov
Press service of the CCI of the Russian Federation, D. Bordyugov
