(Adnkronos) – The Italy-Algeria business forum taking place in Rome on Wednesday is “a precious opportunity” to bolster dialogue with “a strategic partner”, Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani said in opening remarks to the event.
“This is a valuable opportunity to strengthen dialogue with Algeria, which is a strategic partner,” Tajan told the forum, which around 500 Italian and Algerian companies are attending, according to a foreign ministry statement.
“We are working to strengthen our economic partnership. We are two Mediterranean countries and we know that our commitment is crucial to ensuring peace and stability in the area,” Tajani continued.
“We want the Mediterranean to become a sea of peace,” Tajani said, noting that Italy’s cooperation with Algeria – its leading gas supplier and primary economic partner in Africa – “is not only economic but political”.
Bilateral trade last year reached 14 billion euros in value terms, Tajani recalled.
Italy is Algeria’s top customer and second-largest supplier, with exports hitting 2.9 billion euros in 2024 and over 150 Italian companies operating in the country, according to the foreign ministry.
“Algeria is growing, and Italy is its ideal partner in this process,” Tajani underlined.
“Today, around 30 agreements are being signed, demonstrating our commercial interest in the country. Italy thrives on exports, and we must increase delocalisation,” Tajani said.
Italian companies are leading players in the key energy sector, where there is scope to deepen cooperation, Tajani noted.
“The issue of energy is crucial, as is advanced industry. I am thinking of the automotive and agro-industrial sectors – where we have shown we can also contribute to farming the most arid terrain,” he said.
“We can do a great deal in this sector (agro-industry) in Algeria too,” Tajani stated.
The multi-billion euro Mattei Plan to propel Africa’s economic development, curb illegal immigration to Europe and make Italy an energy hub to transport natural gas to the rest of Europe “can show attention is being paid to African countries, especially those bordering the Mediterranean,” Tajani argued.
“Then there is the infrastructure sector, especially digital highways, which is critical,” he said.
“There are many aspects of our economy that can become equally important facets for Algeria’s growth,” Tajani continued.
Italy’s cooperation with Algeria is also political, he underlined.
“Political ties can capitalise on a longtime friendship and the excellent understanding between our countries,” said Tajani.
“And we want to continue to support Algeria’s relationship with the European Union to achieve more fruitful cooperation.”
The forum is being hosted by the foreign ministry in collaboration with Italy’s trade agency (ITA) and follows a business roundtable chaired by Tajani in Algiers on 3 March.
Tajani’s counterpart Ahmed Attaf was also set to give an opening address to the forum whose afternoon plenary includes a segment on non-predatory partnership inspired by Italian major Eni’s founder Enrico Mattei, one on bilateral trade and investment opportunities and on financial instruments to support bilateral partnerships, the foreign ministry statement said.
Panel discussions are also taking place on energy, the circular economy, infrastructure and transport, sustainable agriculture, advanced manufacturing and the pharmaceutical industry, with contributions from Italian and Algerian business leaders, according to the statement.
A special focus is being given to B2B meetings, with dedicated stations set up for 130 Algerian firms, the statement added.
