Algeria, EU, UNDP sign two cooperation agreements
ALGIERS- Two cooperation agreements have been signed Thursday in Algiers between Algeria, the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The signing ceremony was co-chaired by Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ramtane Lamamra and EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, who is on a two-day visit to Algeria since Wednesday.
These agreements are about the financing of two new EU support programmes, one on the diversification of industry and improvement of investment climate (PADICA) between Algeria and the EU, and the other is on local development (CAPDEL) between Algeria, UNDP and the EU.
The first agreement provides for a three-year cooperation programme, worth EUR18.7 million, to assist the up-grading efforts and actions of the Ministry of Industry and Mining.
It aims at preparing for the European investments in Algeria.
The second agreement, the first of its kind in the region, provides for a triangular (Algeria-UNDP-EU) cooperation programme, worth EUR8 million, to support local development.
"Algeria contributes with 10 percent in the two agreements, by providing all necessary conditions for the implementation of the two programmes, in accordance with the rules and procedures in force with the EU," according to the explanations provided at the signing ceremony.
In a statement to the press at the end of the signing ceremony, Lamamra said that the two agreements "materialize cooperation between Algeria and the EU, on the one hand, and between Algeria and the United Nations, on the other hand."
"It is a sectoral cooperation for local development and human resources training," he said, adding that through the signing of the two agreements, "foreign partners are supporting investment and development programmes, initiated by Algeria."
For his part, Johannes Hahn underlined that "Algeria is an important partner in the region," adding that the signing of these agreements would strengthen relations between the two sides.
APS, 12 May 2016