Algeria keen to further diversify partnership, enhance cooperation with Pakistan: Ambassador Romani
Zubair Qureshi
The embassy of Algeria on Friday celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Glorious National Day of Algeria—the day of the liberation for Algeria (November 1) against the French colonial rule in 1954—by hosting a grand reception featuring the colours, culture and cuisine of Algeria along with the expression of a strong desire to boost partnership with Pakistan.
Minister of State for Information Technology (IT) Shaza Fatima Khawaja was the Chief Guest on the occasion. A cake was also cut on the occasion in the presence of the diplomatic corps accredited to Pakistan and representatives of international organizations, parliament, chambers of commerce & industry, academic, cultural and media institutions as well as the national community in Pakistan.
In her address as Chief Guest, Shaza Fatima congratulating the host, Ambassador Brahim Romani and his fellow Algerians, reiterated the strong bond of friendship between Algeria and Pakistan and how both the countries have supported each other on multilateral forums, particularly Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir has always been supported by the Algerian government.
Pakistan highly values and its ties with Algeria and will always support the country on international forums, she said reaffirming commitment to take forward the positive relationship that exists between the two. Algeria is following a policy of peace, human rights and justice across the world which is an integral part of its policy, she commended.
She particularly mentioned that Pakistan had a lot to offer when it comes to digitization and can help Algeria in its efforts to promote e-governance, Fintech and a lot many other sectors.
Earlier, Ambassador Romani in his welcome address expressed gratitude to the guests for attending the glorious national day reception. Algeria, under the leadership of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune is making a rapid progress, he said. The country records a growth rate of 4.1pc without external debts increasing agricultural and industrial activities, he said adding a new law passed in 2022 grants Algerian and foreigners the same rights and privileges with significant tax exemptions thus resulting in registration of 9400 investment projects including large foreign projects, the Arab, the European and Asian.
On bilateral relations, Ambassador Romani noted both Algeria and Pakistan enjoyed enduring partnership for last six decades. “Last year in 2023, we celebrated 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations,” he said. Pakistan he said was a pivotal country and Algeria was keen to diversify economic partnership with this brotherly and friendly country.
He made a special reference to the Algerian Embassy’s efforts in activating bilateral relations and promoting economic cooperation by encouraging the participation of businessmen in economic exhibitions held in both countries. This has led to over 200 Pakistani business representatives visiting Algeria in past two years and more than 30 Pakistani businessmen and women attending Algiers International Fair this year and organizing the first Algerian-Pakistani Economic Forum, said Ambassador Romani. Area-wise Algeria is the largest country—about 2 million and 400,000 sq-km—and it is the third economy in Africa this year in addition to being a country rich in human and natural, agricultural competencies.
The country is also rich in oil, gas and various minerals and has the unique distinction of being the first gas exporter to Europe. Algeria he said had a strategic location in North Africa opposite to Europe and bordered by five countries to the south linking it to the regions of West Africa and the Sahara Sahel. The ambassador informed that the unique location made his country gateway to the continent and a bridge of communication and cooperation between Africa and Europe across the Mediterranean and between Asia and Africa via the Arabian Sea and the Suez Canal.
