BP Will Not Leave Algeria, UK Ambassador says

Ambassador of UK to Algeria, Martyn Roper, said British Petroleum will not leave the country, adding that bilateral partnership has been improving in the last two years.

Mr Martyn Roper told Echorouk Forum, that British companies are interested in diversifying their activities in the Algerian market, to invest non-hydrocarbons sectors, including education, health, public works, counseling, pharmaceutical industry and mechanics.

He further deplored “the low trade exchangeS between the two nations which does not reflect the good bilateral relations, mostly as the Algeria government has been working to encourage more British companies to come and invest there.”

The British diplomat said five missions of British businessmen and British institutions specialized in promoting foreign trade and investment are likely to conduct work visit to Algeria in the second half of next year. 

He added that bilateral exchange trade increased by 80 percent during the first quarter of 2011, comparing to the same period of last year.

Furthermore, Mr Martyn Roper asserted that British Petroleum (BP) has decided maintaining its investments in Algeria, despite heavy financial losses inflicted in the US, in last April.