Algiers – Algeria is increasingly becoming a focal point for international agricultural investment, with both Russia and China expressing strong interest in forging partnerships within the sector. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Yassine El Mahdi Oualid, recently hosted separate meetings with economic delegations from both nations to explore avenues for enhanced cooperation and strategic alliances.
The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that Minister Oualid met with Stephan Dürr, founder and chairman of the Russian group of companies ‘Ekoniva’, at the ministry headquarters. This meeting provided the Russian delegation with a platform to assess investment opportunities in Algeria, highlighting the incentives and facilities offered by the Algerian government to foreign investors. The Russian representatives conveyed a keen interest in undertaking investment projects in the Algerian agricultural sector, particularly in the southern regions, where abundant natural resources and potential exist.
Furthermore, Minister Oualid received a delegation from the XPCC Production and Construction Corps, a state-owned enterprise from China’s Xinjiang province. The delegation was led by Zhang Wensheng, a member of the Communist Party Committee and Deputy Political Commissar of the corporation. Both parties emphasized the strong friendship and cooperative ties between Algeria and China, expressing a mutual desire to strengthen these relations across various fields, including agriculture. They explored numerous opportunities for collaboration, with a particular focus on modern agricultural practices.
The Minister underscored Algeria’s interest in the Chinese model of agricultural development and leveraging Chinese expertise in areas such as agricultural technology, afforestation, desertification control, development of drought-resistant seeds, and irrigation techniques. The discussions also included proposals for establishing collaborative mechanisms and partnerships between scientific research institutions in both countries. Chinese investors were invited to capitalize on Algeria’s strategic geographic location and the benefits offered to investors within the country, facilitating access to external markets. These developments signal a significant push towards modernizing and expanding Algeria’s agricultural capabilities through international cooperation.
