Algeria and Italy have agreed to diversify their cooperation by extending it to sectors other than hydrocarbons, Italian foreign minister Luigi Di Maio said on Saturday during a visit to Algiers.
The two countries signed on this occasion “a memorandum of understanding” establishing “a strategic dialogue on bilateral relations and political issues and global security”, according to the Italian side.
They have developed a “solid partnership” in the economic and commercial sectors, said Mr. Di Maio after a meeting with his Algerian counterpart Sabri Boukadoum.
However, the Italian minister wanted his country to “diversify the areas of cooperation with Algeria, other than the hydrocarbons sector”, according to the official Algerian press agency APS.
He notably mentioned infrastructure, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), technological innovation, agro-industry and telecommunications.
Mr. Di Maio also met Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad. “Great satisfaction for the excellent collaboration and confidence in the strengthening of bilateral relations,” tweeted the Italian minister, whose second visit to Algiers since the beginning of the year.
The hydrocarbons sector holds an important place in the Algerian-Italian economic relationship thanks in particular to the Italian oil group Eni, present since 1981 in Algeria, where it presents itself as the first partner of the Algerian hydrocarbon giant Sonatrach in the oil and gas fields.
It manages with Sonatrach the TransMed gas pipeline which connects Algeria to Italy, via Tunisia.
Mr. Boukadoum also announced an agreement on bilateral dialogue and cooperation aimed at developing a “real partnership” between Algiers and Rome.
Discussions also focused on the situation in the Mediterranean basin, marked by the phenomenon of illegal immigration, according to Mr. Di Maio who recalled “the importance that Italy attaches to the problem of irregular migratory flows and its will to strengthen its collaboration with Algeria to deal with this scourge “.
According to a recent report by the European agency Frontex, covering the first five months of 2020, the number of migrants in the western Mediterranean has risen to more than 3,700, half of whom were of Algerian origin.
In addition, the resurgence of illegal departures from Algeria and Tunisia has been accentuated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
