Algerian Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb positioned the ongoing Tunisian-Algerian Economic Forum as a critical checkpoint to accelerate bilateral cooperation, citing robust trade growth but urging even closer economic integration to meet ambitious shared goals.
Speaking at the forum, which precedes the 23rd session of the High Joint Commission on Friday, Ghrieb stated the event is an opportunity to “assess the progress” since the last high-level meeting in Algiers in July 2023 and to explore “significant and diverse partnership opportunities” for business communities.
“The level of cooperation between the two countries has reached encouraging levels in recent years,” Ghrieb reported, revealing that bilateral trade surpassed $2.3 billion in 2024—a 12% increase from 2022.
Trade and Investment: A Strengthening Bond
He detailed a complementary trade relationship: Tunisia has become a key supplier of phosphate products, glass, aluminum, and vehicles to Algeria, while ranking as Algeria’s 9th-largest client for goods including energy, sugar, food products, and cement.
On investment, Ghrieb noted substantial Tunisian engagement in Algeria, with 66 active investment projects valued at approximately $353 million by the end of October 2025, 90% of which are in the industrial sector, particularly pharmaceuticals and electrical industries. Nearly 750 Tunisian companies were operating in Algeria in 2023, representing over 9% of all foreign firms in the country.
“Promising Indicators” Fall Short of Ambition
Despite these “promising indicators,” the Prime Minister cautioned that the pace “still falls short of the ambitious goals necessitated by fast-changing global dynamics.” He called for both governments and the private sector to “accelerate their efforts” by streamlining cross-border trade and identifying competitive advantages for joint projects.
Ghrieb outlined a vision for “interconnected infrastructure and shared value chains,” suggesting this bilateral cooperation could expand into a tripartite framework with Libya, leveraging complementary strengths as envisioned in a leaders’ summit last April. He confirmed that joint projects in energy, transport, and water are currently under development.
Foundations for Future Growth
The signing of a cooperation agreement between the Algerian Council of Economic Renewal and Tunisia’s UTICA business confederation was highlighted as a cornerstone for future partnership-building. Ghrieb emphasized that such institutional links, alongside business deals signed between companies this week, reflect a “mutual commitment to strengthening economic cooperation” and achieving deeper integration.
The forum underscores a concerted push to translate strong political ties into broader, more resilient economic partnerships.
TunisianMonitorOnline (NejiMed)
