Algeria Exports Dates To France, Vegetables To The Gulf Countries

Algeria is exporting dates to France and preparing for export of vegetables soon towards the Gulf countries that talk about opening the doors of export for Algerian products by air, which will be transported by Algerian planes, or Gulf planes during May, Chairman of the National Association of Algerian Exporters, Ali Bey Nasri, told Echorouk.

“Algerian exporters are awaiting the return of flights to continue their activities eagerly, especially towards Russia and Canada, which is one of the most important markets for Algerian products”, he added.

“Export figures were significantly affected during the first months of the current year due to the freezing of air and maritime traffic, and these decisions prevented the export of Algerian goods abroad except to France. We expect things will witness a breakthrough soon”.

“The only products that were exported were Algerian dates to France, negotiations were also opened with the Gulf countries, and according to the data available to the Algerian Exporters Association, the beginning of flights to export Algerian potatoes, dates, vegetables and fruits to Qatar and the UAE and other countries is expected to start within a week, while we hope the export flights will resume through freight flights to Canada and Russia, which are one of the most important clients of the Algerian Noor royal dates”.

“The export figures fell a lot during the Covid19 period, which imposes an urgent plan to revitalize it in light of the difficult circumstance experienced by the oil market and the impact of this on the Algerian economy. These figures declined during the first two months of the year from $6 b to $4 billion, and this is due to the oil market collapse, which created a large gap in the Algerian export figures”.

Over 20 tons of Algerian dates were exported, on Wednesday to France from Algiers Houari Boumediene International Airport, where Air Algérie seeks to increase the capabilities of importing and exporting goods so that the number of flights doubles from 5 to 6 flights per week to France before the start of the Covid19 to about 20 flights per week since the spread of the virus and the suspension of air and maritime traffic between countries.

The general manager of the Air Algérie cargo branch affirmed in a statement to the press that the transport of goods is not concerned with suspension and that Algeria, which decided not to export strategic products that are widely consumed except with dates, exported its surplus by more than 1000 tons of Algerian dates to France since the beginning of the Covid19.

“The commodity available at Air Algérie is from 30 to 50 tons per day. Algerian dates are exported to France at a rate of two to three flights per day towards the French capital Paris and the cities of Lyon and Marseille, that is, towards the cities where a large presence of the Algerian community that increases the demand for dates, especially in the month of Ramadan.