Algerian-French Meeting To Discuss The Visit Of Macron, Peugeot Factory

Algerian-French Economic Joint Committee will hold its fourth session next Sunday to discuss a number of economic files and some investment projects, in the forefront the project of the construction of the Peugeot car factory, which noticed some progress, after the governor of Oran (western Algeria), decided in the real estate that will host the project.

This session comes at a time when the bilateral relationships between the two countries noticed a kind of stalemate that was embodied by the delay of the visit of the new French President, Emmanuel Macron, to Algeria, despite the Elysee announced his expected visit to Algeria on the eve of his visit to the Kingdom of Morocco.

According to a statement by the Foreign Ministry, the fourth session of the Joint Algerian-French Economic Commission (COMEFA) will be held in Algiers on November 12, under the chairmanship of the Foreign Minister, Abdelkader Messahel and his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Europe, and the French Industry and Finance Minister, Bruno Le Maire and Algeria’s Industry and Mines Minister, Yousef Yousfi.

The joint meeting will focus on the evaluation of the economic partnership and the prospects of strengthening it, launching joint projects among economic agents, and the fourth session of the bilateral dialogue on political and security issues between Messahel and Le Drian.

Echorouk sources suggested that the committee’s session should be a prelude to an upcoming visit by the French President to Algeria, a visit which the French ambassador to Algeria recently said that the preparations for it should be started without stating the deadlines. 

Same sources said that there are several indicators about Macron visit to Algeria, as his latest one noticed the inauguration of Peugeot cars’ installation factory.

Following the reception of the Industry and Mines Minister to the President and General Manager of the company, Echorouk quoted sources about this meeting that the guest of the Industry and Mines Minister, informed him of the compliance of the French company with the Algerian conditions, whether those related to integration or training or technology transfer or handling.

As the French side presented all aspects that are related to the conditions that are stipulated in the book of conditions.

Peugeot considers Algeria to be one of the most important markets, and it has adopted investment projects in Africa and the Middle East but makes the establishment of a factory in Algeria a priority, and therefore, the French company is putting the ball in the Algerian goal and is waiting for approval from the Algerian authorities, which have already postponed the project, as Peugeot is seeking to install the Peugeot 301, Peugeot 208 and Citroen C Elysee.

Algerian-French Economic Committee, that is scheduled this Sunday, comes in the context of a talk about a session of the high-level joint governmental committee between the two countries that is supposed to be held in December.

Sunday’s session comes after the previous meeting of the “COMEFA”, which took place in April 2016 under the chairmanship of the former Prime Minister, Abdelmalek Sellal, and his French counterpart Manuel Valls. 

It is known that the COMEFA was adopted in May 2013, in application of Algeria Declaration on friendship and partnership between France and Algeria.

France remain the most important trade partner between Paris and Algeria, as the volume of bilateral trade in 2016 was estimated at $7.93 billion, of which $3.19 billion were Algerian exports to France, compared with $4.74 billion which are imports from France. 

France is the second supplier after China and the fourth customer of Algeria.