17th October 2001
Mister President and Dear Brother,
Honourable Ministers,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I will start by telling you my pleasure to be here for the opening of the second session of the High Commission for Bilateral Co-Operation.
The decision we took last year in Algiers, to confer a strategic dimension on the co-operation between our two countries, is liable to meet our peoples' aspirations.
Given the significance and scope of such a decision, which is already bearing fruits, it is particularly important for both our countries, as it will help us create favourable conditions for the establishment of mutually profitable relationships, which should be durable and broadened to an increasing number of fields.
Mister President,
Honourable Ministers,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The frame we have set up is intended to rule our co-operation and give it momentum.
It has already reached a number of results, particularly the conclusion of various agreements and the identification of actions for co-operation. These results are up to our common determination to have strategic and exemplary relationships.
As for us, we are fully resolved to go as far as our potentials could afford, regarding co-operation with your country.
South African partners willing to work with Algeria could draw on the new Algerian legislative frame meant to boost investment and partnership. Such an attractive frame for potential South African investors has been accompanied by a series of economic reforms aiming at promoting private initiatives, and facilitating our economy's integration into the world economy.
The second session of our High Commission is an opportunity for economic operators from our two countries to enhance their consultations and set the ways and means to intensify and diversify relationships between South Africa and Algeria.
In this prospect and in line with the commitments taken at the first session of the High Commission, it will be left to them to complete the legal framework of our co-operation and launch a concrete programme of action aimed at a substantial increase in our economic exchanges.
In this regard, I am gratified with the presence here of Algerian and South African businessmen who are holding, besides our meeting, a forum, following those held in Algeria, in November 1997 and September 2000. We attach a particular importance to this forum, which is precisely meant to turn the decisions taken by our governments into concrete actions.
Our economies are interdependent, and they quite naturally offer great possibilities to increase our exchanges in the fields of energy, mining, chemisty, pharmaceuticals, services, agriculture and food industry.
Beyond these economic exchanges, it is equally important that our operators pay a particular attention to the exchange of experiences and information, and technology transfer. Our countries can and must establish a reliable network for these fields, which will serve as a permanent link between the scientific communities of our two countries.
The efforts we will have made to increase our trade and economic exchanges, and promote the exchange of information and experience, will undoubtedly have a positive impact on our countries, as they will help us know each other better, and therefore, co-operate better, especially by creating the favourable conditions to the establishment of structural links between both countries.
Mister President and Dear Brother,
Honourable Ministers,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As we have already put it, the first objective of the High Commission for Bilateral Co-Operation is to develop the relationships between our two countries. Yet, we do not rule out the possibility to use it as a tool to develop a more opened partnership with other African countries.
In this regard, the Algerian/South African partnership should necessarily be a model of South/South co-operation, in favour of African integration.
Equally, South African economic operators could find an interest in joining their Algerian and Nigerian partners who have already started a large structuring project, with the threefold objective of linking both countries by a gas pipeline, completing the Algiers-Lagos trans Saharan road, and interconnecting their telecommunications network.
On their part, Algerian economic operators could profit from markets offered by other Southern African countries, relying on their partnership with their South African colleagues.
Mister President and Dear Brother,
Honourable Ministers,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
During this session, it would be advisable to seek the ways and means to foster movement of persons and goods; this will allow a better understanding of our respective values and cultures.
In this context, we should focus on facilitating and promoting tourism in our countries, thus allowing each of our peoples to be more acquainted with the other, and to appreciate their rich nature and culture.
I am gratified with the decisions taken by the local authorities to twin Algiers and Pretoria, Annaba and Cape Town, Oran and Durban. This goes in line with our wish to see our countries and our cities brought increasingly closer.
We could also encourage and incite Algerian and South African NGOs fighting for the promotion of our common values, to establish ties of friendship among them, so that they could harmonise their actions and extend the scope of their implementation.
Mister President and Dear Brother,
Honourable Ministers,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
These are some general guidelines to your proceedings. You have to know that we have high expectations of your Commission, whose vitality and dynamism should reflect our common determination to serve our countries and our peoples.
I am convinced that you will build on your common readiness to work to this effect, as well as I am confident in your ability to turn this second session of the High Commission into a major step in the strengthening and enhancement of our relationships.
Be imaginative and bold in your deliberations, and may the results of your proceedings be up to our people's expectations.
I thank you.