Bangladesh - Algeria business ties

[Al-khiyal]

March 29, 2007 -- President Iajuddin Ahmed has said Algeria could invest in ICT and power sectors of Bangladesh as both the countries need to explore all the avenues of cooperation for mutual benefits, reports UNB.

The President said this when Algerian Ambassador in Bangladesh Larbaoui Nadir made a courtesy call on him at the Bangabhaban in the city Wednesday.
During the meeting, the President underlined the need for enhancing economic cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the fields of trade and commerce. "At the moment, the volume of trade is not significant," he added.

The President further said the Algerian government could import quality drugs and melamine and leather goods from Bangladesh at very competitive prices.

He said the Algerian government may utilise skilled and unskilled manpower of Bangladesh for its development as Bangladesh is endowed with huge population and have experienced teachers, doctors and engineers.

The President told the envoy that the next parliament election would be held in Bangladesh in a free, fair and credible manner since Bangladesh is a democratic country.

He said the present government is creating a level-playing field for the upcoming general election and updating the voter list.

Iajuddin also lauded the role of the present caretaker government in creating a peaceful atmosphere in the country.

He apprised Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika through the envoy to open a full-fledged embassy in Bangladesh.

The Algerian envoy apprised the President that his government is keen to enhance economic and technical cooperation between the two countries. He said all the universities and educational institutions of Algeria are open to the students of Bangladesh for higher study.

The President conveyed his best wishes to the Algerian President through the envoy.

Military Secretary to the President Major General M Aminul Karim, Secretary to the President's Office M Sirajul Islam and concerned officials of the foreign ministry were present on the occasion.

Bangladeshi president seeks Algerian investment in ICT, power sectors

[Al-khiyal]

Algeria to set up embassy in Dhaka soon

Dhaka, March 28, 2008 (COMTEX) -- Algeria is going to establish its embassy in Dhaka soon to further promote trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

"The process is going on. We'll set up our embassy here as soon as possible to improve trade and economic cooperation," said Nadir Larbaoui, Algerian Ambassador to Bangladesh who is resident in Islamabad, in an interview with UNB at Sonargaon Hotel today (Friday).

The Ambassador said: "We're also going to renew all agreements in the fields of trade and commerce and planning to establish foreign office consultations."

He said a 20-member business delegation from Bangladesh visited Algeria last year to promote bilateral trade and investment.

Ambassador Larbaoui, who had meetings with Bangladeshi businesses and companies, said: "We're thinking to set up a business council of Bangladeshi and Algerian businessmen."

The present bilateral trade is insignificant and done through third country. Bangladeshi pharmaceutical products and medicines are mainly exported to Algeria.

Ambassador Larbaoui said that although based in Pakistan, he always made a point of coming to Dhaka to share with brotherly people of Bangladesh on the occasion of the Independence Day and express good wishes on behalf of Algerian President M Abdelaziz Bouteflika and the Algerian people.

Replying to a question, he said Algeria as a brotherly country is following with great interest political and economic developments in Bangladesh and praised the government efforts to promote the democratic process and ensure the stability, security and development of the country.

The Ambassador also praised Bangladesh's role in UN peacekeeping missions especially in the African continent to protect peace and stability in some areas.

About the current situation in Algeria, he said his country had passed through a very bad phase in 90s due to terrorism, but Algerian people alone faced it till September 11, 2001, the date the international community woke up to recognize that terrorism is an international threat and it should be faced with regional and international cooperation.

The Ambassador said Algeria faced the challenge of terrorism with four major conditions - it has national consensus against terrorism and extremism as Algerians are moderate and tolerant and know the real value of Islam. Secondly, Algeria has a strong constitution and democratic institutions, important civil society with a special role played by women and a consensus to reject any kind of foreign intervention.

He said that after being elected through a democratic election in 1999, President Bouteflika launched a national reconciliation process adopted by all Algerian people. Now many reforms are taking place under the mandate of the President.

The Ambassador said Algeria's economic growth is now around 6.5 this year and its exchange reserve is US$ 70 billion. "We've now started projects in infrastructure, agriculture, industry, etc. We've launched a privatization policy."

He said he had many meetings with Bangladeshi businessmen and invited them to take part in these projects in terms of commercial or partnership because he said both the countries have lot of potentials and possibilities to cooperate and improve together.

On Bangladesh-Algeria relations, the Ambassador said the two countries have common history, values and roots in war for liberation. Both the countries know the value of sacrifice for liberation.

He recalled the role played by former Algerian President Houari Boumediene to promote reconciliation between Bangladesh and Pakistan in 1974. President Boumediene came to Dhaka and took with him Prime Minister Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to attend the OIC summit held in Lahore.

Ambassador Larbaoui said peace is the main pillar of Algerian foreign policy, especially supporting as a dogma the right of the people to self-determination and extended support with this belief to East Timor and Western Sahara.

On Western Sahara, he said this is a conflict between Morocco and Polisario and "our neighbour Morocco with which we have good bilateral relations continue to deny the right of self-determination of Sahraoui people and refuse to implement the peace plan of former US Foreign Secretary James Baker."

He said Morocco is now talking about autonomy of the occupied territory, but the idea was already rejected by Sahraoui people and the international community.

Since there is no substantial progress in finding a solution at the representative of the UN secretary general, Algeria called both the parties to negotiate with the best intention and faith to create a positive atmosphere for the success of the process, Ambassador Larbaoui said.

[Al-khiyal]

Bangladesh-Algeria bilateral trade to expand

May 15, 2008 -- Foreign Affairs Advisor Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury Wednesday received the Algerian envoy resident in Islamabad and accredited to Bangladesh, Ambassador Nadir Larbaoui, at the Foreign Ministry.

The Ambassador discussed matters of mutual interest including the need and possibility to expand trade.

The Advisor said the Algerians have a huge foreign exchange reserve and they import goods worth nearly US $7 billion annually. "We agreed that some of these imports could come from Bangladesh. I have advised him to talk to our business community, which he will." They also discussed the evolving political situation in Pakistan, where the Ambassador is located and a country that the Foreign Adviser visited recently.