Italy Eyes Algerian Agriculture as Key Cooperation Axis
Italian Ambassador Alessandra Schiavo highlighted the fundamental importance of Algerian agriculture for Italy, stating a clear intent to establish the sector as a major axis of bilateral cooperation. This emphasis, expressed during the launch of a twinning project dedicated to organic agriculture and quality product valorization, positions Algeria as a priority country within Italy's Plan Mattei, an initiative focused on strengthening partnerships with African nations. The Ambassador affirmed Italy's strategic consideration of agricultural collaboration with Algeria.
The newly launched twinning project, funded by the European Union with one million euros over 24 months, represents a significant step in this cooperation. It involves the Algerian Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests, and the French Ministry of Agriculture. The program aims to enhance Algeria's institutional and regulatory framework, improve control and certification mechanisms, and guide agricultural sectors toward quality labeling. This includes developing application texts for organic agriculture and clarifying responsibilities for oversight bodies.
A key ambition of these initiatives is to strengthen conditions for Algerian agricultural products to gain greater access to the Italian and broader European markets. The program seeks to equip Algeria with a quality system capable of enhancing its produce, building consumer confidence, and preparing producers for international market demands by harmonizing national regulations with European standards. Furthermore, concrete bilateral investments such as the 400-million-euro agro-industrial project in Timimoun, focused on cereal production and processing, demonstrate the expanding and robust agricultural partnership between Algeria and Italy. This holistic approach aims to make quality, certification, and product valorization central drivers of Algeria's agricultural competitiveness and export capabilities.
