Saudi Arabia – Minister of State, Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, met with Gerd Müller, Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), on Monday. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 21st UNIDO General Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Algerian Ambassador to Austria and Permanent Representative to UNIDO, Larbi Latroche, and the Algerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Cherif Oualid, also attended.
According to a statement from the Ministry, the meeting highlighted the excellent relations between Algeria and UNIDO. Discussions centered on strengthening cooperation in the fields of hydrocarbons, mining, and energy industries. Both parties explored new opportunities for joint work in industrial technology, innovation, and sustainable development. The dialogue also touched upon Algeria’s efforts to promote a circular economy, diversify the national economy, and enhance integrated manufacturing, with a focus on increasing the added value of natural resources and developing industrial value chains.
Minister Arkab emphasized the importance of improving the competitiveness of the national economy, supporting micro and start-up enterprises in the industrial sector, and developing industrial digitization and clean technologies. He stressed that these elements are fundamental pillars for a modern and sustainable economy. The two parties discussed the potential for expanding cooperation to include technology transfer, training, human resource capacity building, and the exchange of expertise, particularly in green technologies, the pharmaceutical industry, new and renewable energies, and industrial innovation.
Algeria expressed its aspirations for greater technical support from UNIDO in developing regulatory frameworks, enhancing industrial quality, encouraging investment, and supporting job creation programs for young people. A key focus of the meeting was cooperation in the field of clean energy, with discussions on strategic projects such as the Algeria-Europe Hydrogen Alliance (ALTEH2A) and the SoutH2 Corridor. Algeria welcomed UNIDO’s proposal to oversee the General Secretariat of the project, recognizing its strategic importance in supporting the global energy transition and promoting South-North partnerships.
The Minister reaffirmed Algeria’s commitment to strengthening South-South cooperation in the African continent, particularly in the areas of energy, mining, and industrial development. This includes a focus on human resource training, knowledge transfer, and the development of industrial energy infrastructure. Minister Arkab also congratulated the Director-General of UNIDO on his reappointment for an additional four-year term.
The Director-General of UNIDO lauded…
