APS : Thursday, 08 October 2020
ALGIERS- Algeria is “an extremely important strategic partner for Spain and Europe”, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Thursday, voicing the Spanish authorities’ commitment to deepen “the privileged relations” binding the two countries.
Speaking to the press following his meeting with President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Sanchez thanked President Tebboune for having received him, “despite the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The meeting has been an opportunity to deepen cooperation in combating this pandemic.”
Algeria is “an extremely important strategic partner for Spain and Europe” and “we are working to deepen these privileged relations that bind our two countries, “he added.
For the Spanish side, Algeria “plays an extremely important role for the stability of the region, particularly in North Africa and the Sahel region.”
Regarding the crises in the region and more specifically in Libya and the Sahel, the head of the Spanish government said that Algeria “renewed its commitment to find a solution to these crises and to find solutions to crises that have been on hold for several years and whose effects are impacting peoples.”
The Governments of the two countries are willing “to hold a high level meeting in 2021,” announced Sanchez, saying that this “visit is a first step which will be followed by a high-level meeting in Spain. We are committed to build cooperation that serves both countries.”
“Cooperation can be established in several fields, not only in the fields of energy and trade but also in the fields of security and the interior, and particularly in the fight against migratory flows.”
The two Governments “are determined to counter the migration problem which poses a challenge for both parties, not only for host countries but also for transit countries.”
“We are working through several approaches to deal with this problem, by providing aid and assistance to the countries of origin through economic development and
supporting young people to offer them work opportunities and encourage them to abstain from migration.”
“Encouraging” business climate in Algeria
After branding the business climate in Algeria “very advantageous and encouraging,” Sanchez recalled the volume and number of Spanish companies accompanying it, given that the Spanish companies “are very interested in investing in Algeria, some of them have been operating for 50 years and have brought profits for both countries.”
Regarding rule 49/51, Spanish premier considered that his amendment would boost foreign investments in Algeria, particularly in the fields of renewable energy, industrial agribusiness and consulting firms.
Regarding the Covid-19 pandemic which has strongly impacted the Spanish economy, Sanchez stressed that this pandemic can “constitute an opportunity to strengthen international cooperation, address the challenges at the origin of this disease and consolidate relations between the two countries”.
