Chinese Companies Submitted Files To Create Cars, Trucks And Buses Factories in Algeria

Algeria granted 40.000 visas to Chinese nationals during the first ten months of the year, there are 5,000 permanent residents and about 45.000 short-term vacationers, Algeria ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, Ahcene Boukhalfa, said during a meeting with a number of national media representatives at the embassy in Beijing.

“There are several files of Chinese companies to set up factories for cars, trucks and buses’ installation in Algeria, and announced that Algerian dates and olive oil are ready for export to China”.

“Diplomatic relationships between the two countries are very old and solid and return to 1958 after the signing of an agreement between the Algerian interim government and the People’s Republic of China, and in 1971 Algeria was head of the Non-Aligned Movement The proposal that allowed China to return to the Security Council and the UN General Assembly”.

“Algeria will not forget China’s support, and China will not forget Algeria’s support for its return to the Security Council and the United Nations Security Council”; he said.

According to Ambassador, Ahcene Boukhalfa, the presence of Chinese companies in Algeria is very large, as there are about 1000 companies. There is an ambition to promote direct Chinese investment in Algeria and to import production capabilities and equipment that will become productive in the future.

Algerian diplomat in Beijing asserted that the cars’ industry is also interested in investing, after several Chinese companies made offers in partnership with Algerian companies, which are related to cars, trucks and buses.

He spoke about the file of Algerian community in China, saying: “It is few, especially businessmen who visit China for few days. Number of people who are registered on the electoral list is 560 Algerians, while the number of consular records is about 800, including fewer than 300 Algerians who are regular residents and who are mostly students”.

Ambassador Boukhalfa explained that Algeria annually grants between 45.000 and 55.000 visas to Chinese nationals. 

“Their number in 2015 was about 56,000 but it dropped slightly in 2016 to around 50,000 due to the decline in the volume of transactions, and until October it reached about 40.000 visas”.

“There are between 5000 to 6000 members of the Chinese community who are residing in Algeria on a regular basis, while there are about 55.000 Chinese nationals, including 45.000 with short stays, but it remains one of the most important foreign communities in Algeria”.

“Algeria Consular Center in Beijing is the only center that grants visas for foreigners worldwide”.

He was Asked about the rule of partnership with foreigners 51/49, and he explained that it is not a problem, but Chinese companies are only asking questions about it and did not prevent their desire to invest in Algeria, especially since there is serious consideration of investment with Algerian partners in several sectors.

Ambassador Boukhlafa announced that Algerian dates, in addition to Algerian wine and olive oil, are ready for export to China after the Agriculture Minister visited the country last September, where the agreement on agricultural products (animal and vegetable) was signed, and it comes to health certificates for agricultural products.