Türkiye's Erdogan to Visit Algeria to Boost Economic Relations

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan receives President Tebboune during his recent visit to Turkiye. (file photo: Algerian Presidency)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan receives President Tebboune during his recent visit to Turkiye. (file photo: Algerian Presidency)
TT

Türkiye's Erdogan to Visit Algeria to Boost Economic Relations

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan receives President Tebboune during his recent visit to Turkiye. (file photo: Algerian Presidency)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan receives President Tebboune during his recent visit to Turkiye. (file photo: Algerian Presidency)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Algeria on Tuesday at the invitation of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

Talks between the leaders will focus on boosting relations in all fields, significantly strengthening economic ties.

According to Turkish sources, they will focus on boosting bilateral ties and address regional and international issues, notably the Israeli war on Gaza.

Turkish-Algerian ties have witnessed remarkable development at all levels in recent years and increased momentum after President Abdelmadjid Tebboune took power in 2019.

After assuming the presidency, Tebboune made his first visit to Türkiye in May 2022, 17 years after the last visit made by late President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Tebboune made a second visit in July.

Erdogan had last visited Algeria in January 2020.

During his visit, officials signed a joint declaration on establishing the Türkiye-Algeria High-Level Cooperation Council.

The countries had signed the "Friendship and Cooperation Agreement" in 2006 to improve their relations.

Erdogan and Tebboune met again on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York in September 2022.

Türkiye and Algeria maintain full coordination in resolving Palestinian and regional issues.

Earlier this month, Erdogan said he attaches great importance to his visit to Algeria, saying it has clear positions and significant influence in Africa.

On Monday, Turkish media quoted Türkiye's ambassador to Algeria, Mucahit Kucukyilmaz, as saying that many steps need to be taken between Ankara and Algiers, amid the high potential of both nations, especially in the economic fields.

Turkish investments in Algeria topped $6 billion, and trade volume between them reached $5.3 billion in 2022, said the ambassador, expecting it to exceed $6 billion this year.

The two countries' leadership plans to increase trade volume to over $10 billion.

Over ten agreements are on Erdogan’s agenda in Algeria. They cover economic and cultural affairs, including opening a branch of the "Turkish Agricultural Bank," al-Maarif School, and the Yunus Emre Institute in Algeria.



Lebanon Joins Middle East Green Initiative

 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
TT

Lebanon Joins Middle East Green Initiative

 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister announced that the country has joined the Middle East Green Initiative, launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to mitigate the impact of climate change on the region.

“This is an essential step for Lebanon, especially since our southern villages and towns have been exposed to significant environmental and agricultural damage due to Israeli attacks, which requires cooperation with all of Lebanon's friends,” a statement released by the Lebanese Council of Ministers quoted Mikati as saying.

Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan welcomed Lebanon’s participation in the initiative, confirming that a high committee has been established to ensure the project’s sustainability and facilitate relevant cooperation.

He noted that the timing of the announcement “comes in light of the continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon, and this matter must be drawn to attention, especially since Israel is destroying very large areas, whether agricultural lands, fruit trees or forests.”

Environment Minister Nasser Yassin said that the Middle East Green Initiative has very important goals to plant 40 billion trees across the region and protect the Gulf and the Middle East from climate change, stop land degradation and desertification and find the means to adapt to future challenges.

The Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture estimates that more than 2.8 million square meters of forest and agricultural land were completely burned, while about 6.7 million square meters of agricultural and forest land were partially damaged as a result of Israel’s attacks and its use of internationally-banned incendiary munitions.