Press Releases
Visit of Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs MATSUMOTO to the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria and the First Meeting of the Japan-Algeria Intergovernmental Joint Economic Committee
From the afternoon of May 3 to the afternoon of May 4 (local time), Mr. MATSUMOTO Hisashi, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, visited the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria on the occasion of the 1st Japan-Algeria Intergovernmental Joint Economic Committee Meeting. The overview is as follows.
1. Courtesy CALL on Minister Attaf
On May 4, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Matsumoto paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Ahmed ATTAF, Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad and African Affairs of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria.
At the outset, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Matsumoto welcomed the holding of the first Japan-Algeria Intergovernmental Joint Economic Committee and expressed his hope to continue discussions towardfurther strengthened bilateral relations. Furthermore, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Matsumoto conveyed the invitation of President Tebboune to TICAD 9.
In response, Minister Attaf stated that he would like to strengthen cooperation with Japan in various areas, including economic and diplomatic fields, toward TICAD 9 which will be held in August this year.
2. Holding of the 1st Japan-Algeria Intergovernmental Joint Economic Committee Meeting
On the same day, the First Meeting of the Japan-Algeria Intergovernmental Joint Economic Committee was held in Algiers, co-chaired by Parliamentary Vice-Minister Matsumoto from the Japanese side, and H.E. Mr. Lounès MAGRAMANE, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria from the Algerian side. From the Japanese side government agencies and companies related to economy attended the meeting, while the Algerian side ministries related to economy such as energy and startups, as well as representatives from private sectorand state-owned enterprises did. The meeting tookapproximately three hours.
In the meeting, under agenda items "Investment Promotion and Business Opportunities" and "Economic Cooperation Relations," both sides recalled the long history of economic cooperation between the two countries and exchanged views on efforts to expand trade and investment. In addition, the Japanese side requested that Algerian government would cooperate to facilitate business activities of Japanese companies.
3. Meeting with Secretary General Magramane
On the same day, before the Joint Economic Committee starts, the two sides also exchanged views on the international situations about the Sahel including the threat of terrorism and cooperation toward TICAD 9.
(Reference1) The Japan-Algeria Intergovernmental Joint Economic Committee
The Japan-Algeria Intergovernmental Joint Economic Committee was established, based on the Agreement for the Establishment of the Committee, which entered into force in April 2024, for the purpose offormulating strategies to strengthen and diversify economic and trade relations between Japan and Algeria. It is expected that relevant government agencies and business representatives from both countries will hold regular consultations and will lead to discuss the facilitation of economic activities by Japanese companies and, by extension, further strengthening of economic relations between Japan and Algeria.
(Reference2) Participants of the First Meeting
(Japanese Side)
Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization), JBIC (Japan Bank for International Cooperation), companies from the energy sector, machinery manufacturers, trading companies.
(Algerian Side)
Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Renewable Energy, Ministry of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Startups, and Microenterprises, the High Commissioner for Digital, the National Agency for Investment Development (AAPI), the Council for Economic Renewal (CREA), state-owned enterprises in the energy sector.