Vietnam, Algeria promote local cooperation, expand business ties

During the working visit, the diplomat attended the 5th International Exhibition on Agriculture, Food Industry, and Packaging (Agrest-Expo) and held discussions with local officials and enterprises.

At the meeting with Governor Kamel Eddine Kerbouche, Ambassador Vu Duy Long noted that during the nine month period of this year, Vietnam’s economy recorded strong momentum, with GDP growing 9.01% and total export turnover reaching US$434.3 billion. Welcoming the meeting taking place on the 64th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations (October 28, 1962 -October 28, 2026), the diplomat stated that trade in 2026 continued its upward trend, with two-way turnover reaching approximately US$310 million in the first half of the year.

Vietnam continues to step up exports of key commodities such as coffee, cashew nuts, pepper, seafood, and chemicals, while importing Algeria's strength products, including dates, olive oil, and carob powder, aiming to raise two-way trade to US$1 billion.

Ambassador Vu Duy Long suggested that Governor Kerbouche explore establishing cooperative or twin-city relations between Constantine province and a Vietnamese locality sharing similarities in historical heritage, culture, education, and agricultural strengths. The diplomat also stressed the need to step up business delegation visits, connect educational institutions, and expand cooperation in tourism and agriculture. He invited delegations of Constantine's leaders, local business representatives, and investors to visit Vietnam to seek cooperation opportunities.

For his part, Governor Kamel Eddine Kerbouche emphasized that relations between Algeria and Vietnam stem from a traditional historical bond forged through their respective national liberation revolutions.

Governor Kerbouche said that mentioning Vietnam instantly recalls the shared revolutionary struggles for Algerians, whose deep and sincere affection for the Vietnamese people provides a solid foundation for comprehensive cooperation.

Governor Kerbouche outlined Algeria’s key advantages, including its status as Africa's largest country by land area, abundant natural resources, a young population demographic, and a strategic position as a gateway linking Europe and Africa. He detailed the potential and strengths of Constantine and fully agreed with Ambassador Vu Duy Long's proposal to establish twin-city relations between Constantine and a Vietnamese locality.

On this occasion, Constantine provincial leaders invited Vietnamese enterprises to invest in the province. Governor Kerbouche requested the Vietnam Trade Office in Algeria to work directly with the Constantine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and meet with local enterprises at Agrest-Expo to expand trade linkages.

Following the meeting, Ambassador Vu Duy Long and his delegation visited the Ahmed-Bey Cultural Complex (Zénith) to view exhibition booths and meet with Algerian companies participating in the event.

This year's Agrest-Expo gathered over 160 Algerian and foreign enterprises. The event aims to boost investment and build economic partnerships, creating added value for the economy.

The exhibition comprises two main sections, featuring agricultural machinery, equipment, and products alongside food processing technologies and packaging materials.

According to the organizers, Constantine was selected as the venue due to its economic potential and diverse manufacturing base as a major economic center in eastern Algeria. The exhibition provides a platform for Algerian businesses to strengthen cooperation, attract investment, and exchange expertise with foreign partners.

Display booths introduce various products, equipment, and services for agriculture, including grain production, livestock and poultry farming, dairy processing, and fruit cultivation. In the food processing sector, the expo presented Algerian goods, raw materials, processing machinery, and manufacturing technologies. It served as a venue for sector enterprises to seek partners, expand operations, and access solutions to improve production efficiency.

Alongside the exhibition, organizers held thematic meetings, conferences, and seminars on production development, product quality enhancement to international standards, competitiveness for Algerian goods, and export promotion to foreign markets.

Agrest-Expo also provided opportunities for startups and young innovators to present products and services, join commodity supply chains, and establish new partnerships in agriculture and food processing.

Algeria, Vietnam tap potential into cooperation outcomes

VOV.VN - Potential and solid political trust between Vietnam and Algeria will be turned into increasingly concrete cooperation outcomes, particularly in economics, trade, investment, energy, oil and gas, and science and technology.

Vietnam, Algeria look back on history, enduring friendship

A documentary screened in Algeria on September 27 spotlighted Vietnam and Algeria's shared history of struggling for national independence, as well as the solidarity and mutual support that have laid a special foundation for friendship between the two countries and peoples.