Tue, 01 Nov 1994

Algeria cooperates well with Indonesia

By Oei Eng Goan

Forty years ago today, the Algerian people sparked a revolution to liberate their country from oppression and colonial rule. The revolution brought them victory and thus the Democratic People's Republic of Algeria came into being. Observing the Algerian national day, The Jakarta Post conducted an interview with Algerian Ambassador to Jakarta, Abdallah Baali, focusing on Indonesian-Algerian relations.

JAKARTA (JP): Over the past few years political and trade ties between Indonesia and Algeria have markedly increased as both countries have had very good rapport in almost every international meeting.

"We have always enjoyed the best of relations with Indonesia dating back to our struggle for independence," Algeria's Ambassador Abdallah Baali told The Jakarta Post over the weekend.

Ambassador Baali said that bilateral ties have progressed a great deal as shown by the multiple meetings between foreign ministers and officials of the two countries.

The ambassador also said that as members of the Organization of Islamic Conference and the Group of 15 developing nations, Algeria and Indonesia have put their heads together to strongly support the importance of a solid South-South cooperation.

Another factor that binds the two countries long-standing friendship is the fact that Algeria, like Indonesia, had to fight many a bloody battle to drive foreign powers from their beloved land, during which more than a million of its people perished for the cause of the country's independence.

Political observers here agree that Algeria and Indonesia, endowed with rich hydrocarbon resources, have exploited their oil and natural gas resources to finance infrastructure and development projects, turning their countries into modern nations while improving their people's standard of living.

Matter-of-factly, responding to the rapid changes currently taking place globally, Algeria has, since December 1991, opened itself to foreign companies to explore and exploit its oil and gas resources. As a result 31 contracts have been signed since and the U.S. oil corporation, Atlantic Richfield Corporation, will invest one billion dollars in Algeria.

Just a year ago it introduced a new code of commerce fully liberalizing foreign trade in a bid to woo more foreign investors into putting a stake into the country, which is the gateway to the important markets of the Maghreb, Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

When asked about bilateral trade between the two countries, Ambassador Baali said the level of trade exchange has surged from around US$53 million in 1992 and is expected to reach more than $150 million this year.

As many Algerians enjoy drinking strong black coffee served in small cups, it is understandable that the country with a population of around 28 million has an annual coffee consumption of over 100,000 tons.

"Every year we import 70,000 tons of coffee from Indonesia, nearly 70 percent of our total coffee consumption," he said, adding that every year his country also imports other commodities such as plywood and tea, and, in the foreseeable future, sugar.

During exchanged visits by the countries' trade missions, as well as contacts made by the Algerian and Indonesia ministers of agriculture, negotiations are underway for Algeria to buy an additional 10,000 tons of coffee annually.

According to the ambassador, his country, which mainly exports phosphate to Indonesia, is also trying to sell agricultural products, such as oranges and dates, for which Algeria is very well-known.

"It was also agreed during the last meeting of our agriculture minister and food minister with their Indonesian counterparts that the two countries should have a more balanced trade. At present it largely favors Indonesia," the ambassador said.

He also said that to further enhanced bilateral relations, Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Salam Dembri will visit Indonesia before the end of this year to hold talks with his opposite number, Ali Alatas, and other Indonesian high- ranking officials, during which it is expected that the two ministers will sign five agreements covering trade, information and cultural exchanges.