Erdoğan's Agenda Within A Three Day Visit To Algeria

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is due to start an official visit to Algeria on Monday in the context of an African tour to Mauritania, Senegal and Mali.

Erdogan’s visit to Algeria is the second of its kind as President of the Republic of Turkey, already visited Algeria in November 2014, and previously visited it as Prime Minister in 2006, which witnessed the signing of a friendship treaty.

Erdogan’s visit was scheduled for June 2017, but was delayed, but it was postponed like other visits of heads of state to Algeria, like the visit of the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, and the visit of Iran President, Hassan Rohani.

According to Turkish media sources, President Erdogan will be received by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and will discuss with Algerian officials means of developing cooperation between the two countries in combating terrorism, working to advance political relationships and expand economic partnership, which reached unprecedented levels in recent years.

The Turkish President will be accompanied by an expanded delegation of Turkish businessmen and investors who will participate in the Algerian-Turkish Business Forum which will be held on Tuesday on the sidelines of this visit, which will also witness the opening of the Ketchaoua Mosque which was renovated by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency.

Algerian-Turkish relationships have of a special nature, as Algeria is part of the Ottoman Empire from 1519 to 1830, before it was overthrown by the abhorrent French occupation. However, the bilateral relationships were strengthened after Algeria gained independence, as the visit that led Bouteflika to this country in 2005, came to give a new impetus to these relationships.

Turkish investment in Algeria witnessed a remarkable development in recent years, and was able to compete with countries that are known for their permanent presence in Algeria, such as China and France. 

They focused mainly on construction, public works, iron and steel, textiles, chemicals, detergents and foodstuffs, which rose Turkish exports to Algeria in 2016, to $ 1 billion and 700 million, consisting of road transport vehicles and spare parts, iron and steel, textile products, essential oils, electrical appliances and clothing.

Algeria’s exports to Turkey reach $ 1.3 billion, of which 97%, including hydrocarbons and derivatives, such as liquefied natural gas and crude oil, and some agricultural products, particularly dates.