Discussions with French car maker Renault “on due course”, says Benmeradi

The discussions with the French car maker Renault for the setting up of a car manufacturing plant in Algeria “are still ongoing,” Minister of Industry, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, and Investment Promotion Mohamed Benmeradi said Thursday in Algiers.

• A meeting “will bring together both sides in mid-January 2011 in Algiers with the French presidential envoy Mr Raffarin attending,” Mr. Benmeradi told reporters on the sidelines of a plenary session of the Council of Nation (Upper House of Parliament) devoted to the concerns and queries raised by the Algerian Senators.
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• “The French side were the first to express readiness to resume negotiations with us. We’re at the stage of information sharing,  Benmaradi asserted”.
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• The Minister indicated that this major issue is under close study adding that Renault was preparing to reply to a set of questions regarding a future partnership with Algeria whereby Renault will manufacture about 75.000 vehicles per year on Algerian soil, provided a final deal is struck between the two countries.
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•  “We are also preparing answers to a number of questions asked by the French side concerning the feasibility of this ambitious project,” he added. 
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