French Ambassador Bernard Emié: “Negotiations On Peugeot Factory Are Making Headway”

The French Ambassador in Algeria his Excellency Mr. Bernard Emié, affirmed on Saturday that France is the first investor in Algeria outside the hydrocarbons’ sector, pointing out that the negotiations on the projected setting up of a “Peugeot” car factory in Oran (western Algeria) are making headway.

Algeria’s economic development showed that other partners who were previously not extremely present have bolstered their position dramatically on the Algerian market, said the French Ambassador, adding that “if the figures of France fell, a little rushed, in fact in absolute terms, the French economic figures have increased considerably in reality. 

But the real problem is that others have conquered the positions they had not before. In fact, we continue to be the number one foreign investor outside hydrocarbons in Algeria,” Mr Emié stressed.

Economically, France is, he said, duly present in the western regions and contributes to the development of Mostaganem province (western Algeria). “There is a project under consideration to establish a factory there of the “Bel” Group, which will produce in Algeria very popular cheeses for young and old people alike.” 

A project to build a factory that would create in the industrial area of investments and therefore jobs, said the ambassador. “France is the first investor in Algeria, excluding hydrocarbons and generates 140,000 direct and indirect jobs throughout the country”, he stated.

While recalling that the port of Mostaganem is the exclusive port of entry for Renault vehicles exported from France to Algeria stressing that there are also projects underway in the field of logistics, notably in the cereal sector. “We will organize the distribution and import of cereals to make it more effective and make it reach more quickly to customers and also boost bilateral cooperation in the field of the dairy industry,” he explained.

Regarding the suggestion by the foreign minister Ramtane Lamamra during the latter’s recent  visit to Marseille, about illegal immigration that could be curbed by the granting by France of a larger number of visas, the French ambassador underlined that he and the Algerian foreign affairs Minister are working hand in hand  on the matter and thereby we have strengthened the issuance of visas to Algerian nationals. 

Today, France is the first country to issue the greatest number of visas to Algerians. In 2015, we issued 420,000 visas, he said A figure in considerable growth; over the last three years, 200,000 visas have been issued by the French Consulates in Algeria. There is an open policy in compliance with the rules, controls and regulations,” Mr Bernard Emié underscored to this effect.