In a significant move, Algeria and Russia have signed multiple agreements to expand and diversify their cooperation in agriculture, reflecting the growing strategic partnership between the two nations.
Algerian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohamed Abdelhafid Henni, spearheaded a pivotal session of the 11th Algerian-Russian Joint Governmental Cooperation Committee on Thursday in Moscow. Henni co-chaired the session alongside his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Patrushev.
According to an official statement by the Algerian Ministry of Agriculture, the meeting saw the signing of several agreements aimed at expanding and diversifying cooperation fields in a manner that aligns with the priorities of both countries. Henni lauded the excellent bilateral relations during his speech, considering the meeting as “an opportunity to add a new building block in the journey of bilateral cooperation to reach distinguished horizons, based on values of freedom, peace, and justice.”
Henni emphasized that Algeria has a clear agricultural strategy aimed at ensuring food self-sufficiency, a focus given utmost importance by the highest authorities of the nation. He also pointed out that this session follows a bilateral summit between the presidents of the two countries. The state visit by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to Russia last June resulted in the signing of a declaration of deepened strategic partnership, in addition to various other agreements and memorandums of understanding.
Furthermore, Henni recalled the previous session of the Joint Committee held in Algeria in September 2022, where priority cooperation areas were identified. These include enhancing agricultural production and its efficiency, particularly in the fields of grains, seeds, and seedlings, as well as plant health, veterinary health, plant genetic awareness, and livestock breeding.
This session also identified cooperation in establishing direct relationships between sectoral institutions and organizations, encouraging exchanges between academic institutes and benefiting from advancements in scientific research and technology.
Notably, the session was attended by the Algerian Ambassador to Russia and several officials from both countries, with 49 experts representing 15 ministerial sectors participating.
The meeting comes as a crucial step in solidifying the already robust relationship between Algeria and Russia, as both nations look to further their strategic interests in the realm of agriculture and beyond.
