01 Nov 2024, Islamabad: I Welcome to ceremony of the Algerian glorious National Day, commemorating the seventieth anniversary of the first of November 1954 Revolution, in which the Algerian people offered the greatest heroism and the most precious sacrifices, one and a half million martyrs to achieve freedom, on 5 July 1962.
We note with pride and appreciation, that Pakistan was among the earliest supporters of our liberation revolution in international forums, and recognized the provisional government of the revolution in 1958, and established a representative office in Karachi.
A long history of solidarity and cooperation between our two nations. Algeria and Pakistan continue to work together in coordination, consultation, and mutual support, within regional and international organizations, affirming their furm positions in defending just causes, particularly the Palestinian cause.
Algeria is a non-permanent member in the international Security Council from 2024 to 2025, congratulations for Pakistan to be elected as a non-permanent member in Security Council from 2025 to 2026, wishing all success in its tenure, it will be opportunity to consolidate and intensify our collaboration for the just causes in all over the world, for the freedom, the justice, the multipolar world.
Algeria has a strategic location, in North Africa opposite Europe, bordered by five countries to the south, linking it to the regions of West Africa and the Sahara Sahel, making it the gateway to the continent, and a bridge of communication and cooperation between Africa and Europe across the Mediterranean, and between Asia and Africa via the Arabian Sea and the Suez Canal.
Algeria is the largest country in terms of area in Africa, the Arab world and the Mediterranean region, with about 2 million and 400 thousand square km, the third economy in Africa this year, in addition to being a country rich in human and natural agricultural competencies, it is an energy country par excellence, oil, gas and various minerals.
Algeria is the first African exporter of gas to Europe, with over 40 billion cubic meters annually. Algeria is marking a rapid renaissance under the leadership of the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who was elected for a second term on the last 7 September, recording a growth rate of 4.1%, without external debts, increasing agricultural and industrial activities.
A new investment law adopted in 2022, that grants Algerians and foreigners the same rights and privileges, with significant tax exemptions, which made (the Algerian Agency for Investment Promotion) register in just two years about 9400 investment projects, including large foreign projects, Arab, European and Asian.
Algerian diplomacy respecting the charter and values of United Nations, working all time for peace and multilateralism, defending a freedom and a self-determination of peoples, supporting just causes in the world, especially in Palestine and Western Sahara, the last colony in Africa.
My country is keen to diversify economic partnerships, with various countries and regions, including the South of Asia, in which Pakistan is a pivotal country, a brotherly and friendly country.
Our bilateral relations have been framed by the Political Consultations Committee, and the Joint Committee for Technical, Commercial and Economic Cooperation, the two countries have signed many cooperation agreements in different fields.
We celebrated in the last year, the sixtieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between Algeria and Pakistan, it’s a source for inspiration and motivation to go on, working together, more and more, to enhance our understanding, to promote our coordination, and to develop our cooperation for our common benefit.
In the economic diplomacy, the Algerian Embassy in Islamabad is working to activate bilateral relations, and promote economic cooperation, by encouraging the participation of businessmen in economic exhibitions held in both countries, which has led to over 200 Pakistani business representatives, visiting Algeria in the past two years, and more than 30 Pakistani businessmen and women attending Algiers International Fair this year, and organizing the first Algerian-Pakistani Economic Forum.
These a few positive indicators, promising a bright future for economic and technical cooperation between Algeria and Pakistan, both of which are pivotal nations in their respective regions, possessing considerable economic potential, and high expertise to facilitate fruitful partnerships, that will benefit the two brotherly countries.
Finally, I would like to thank Serena hotel, Mr Nadim and his staff to organize this beautiful ceremony.
Editor: Kamran Raja