Tag: Algeria

7 Arab Nations Excel in Achieving SDG Targets

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Post date 21 December 2023
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The ‘Arab Region SDG Index and Dashboards Report 2023’ highlighted that UAE, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Oman, Egypt, and Morocco have accomplished more than two-thirds of their targets…reports Asian Lite News

Seven of the 22 Arab countries – specifically, the UAE, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Oman, Egypt, and Morocco – have accomplished more than two-thirds of their targets in the journey towards fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals.

This key achievement was highlighted in a report by the Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government, in partnership with the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). The report – ‘Arab Region SDG Index and Dashboards Report 2023’ – aligns with the Year of Sustainability and building on the recent COP28 discussions.

This pivotal report is a key resource for governments, policymakers, and stakeholders, offering a comprehensive means to track and measure progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Additionally, it identifies key implementation challenges and data gaps, providing a solid foundation for developing actionable strategies.

Dr. Ali bin Sebaa Al Marri, Executive President of MBRSG, said, “The report reflects MBRSG’s dedication to empowering governments with innovative and proactive policies to meet various challenges and adapt to evolving circumstances at local, regional, and global levels,” he added.

Dr. Al Marri explained, “The report sheds light on the various development challenges confronting the Arab region, particularly its least developed countries. By adopting a data-driven approach, it offers a practical tool for targeted interventions aimed at fostering positive transformations across the region in relation to all Sustainable Development Goals.”

Dr. Fadi Salem, Director of the Policy Research Department at MBRSG and co-author of the report, stated, “The index, with its data-driven insights, underscores significant regional challenges and priorities. It calls for concerted efforts in the upcoming years to expedite development across diverse regional paths.” He also highlighted the importance of leveraging COP28 outcomes for unified regional progress towards a sustainable future.

Despite some regional advancements, the report highlights substantial ongoing obstacles in various developmental sectors within the Arab region. It calls for intensive efforts and the adoption of regional strategies to bridge existing gaps and foster progress towards a more sustainable future.

The report particularly highlights challenges in achieving gender equality (SDG 5), where all Arab countries have shown low performance, and the impact of conflicts on realising SDG 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions). It calls for increased collective efforts to enhance gender equality policies, strengthen institutions, and tackle conflict-related issues.

Additionally, the report notes advancements in SDG 3 (good health and well-being) in some Arab countries, especially in basic health outcomes like neonatal and under-five mortality rates, and improvements in sectors related to SDG 4 (quality education).

Lama Zakzak, Principal Researcher at MBRSG and co-author, stressed the importance of the report’s findings on SDG 13 (climate action). She pointed out that while some countries have made progress in climate action, the least developed are still vulnerable to climate disasters and require significant support for climate-related goals, including adaptation measures.

Guillaume Lafortune, Vice President of the UN SDSN, commented, “This updated report offers a renewed assessment of the SDG progress and challenges in the Arab region, based on transparent and internationally recognized data.” He stressed the urgency of developing long-term investment strategies and ambitious plans with effective monitoring systems to achieve the SDGs by 2030.

The report also identifies the ongoing challenge of data availability, especially in monitoring SDGs related to poverty eradication and inequality reduction. It includes 113 indicators for the 17 SDGs, each with a score, colour-coding for performance levels, and trend arrows.

ALSO READ: Investopia UAE-India: New Edition Aims to Boost Investments

Tags Algeria, egypt, jordan, morocco, MORROCCO, OMAN, SDG, tunisia, UAE

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Algeria applies to join BRICS alliance with $1.5bn contribution

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 23 July 2023
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Morocco World News brings the news of Morocco and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the Middle East and Morocco…reports Asian Lite News

Algeria has formally applied to join the BRICS group and submitted a request to become a shareholder member of the BRICS Bank. The Algerian President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, revealed this development during his recent visit to China, where he expressed Algeria’s eagerness to open new economic opportunities and strengthen its partnerships with countries like China, Morocco World News reported.

“We officially applied to join the BRICS group, we sent a letter asking to be shareholder members in the bank … Algeria’s first contribution in the bank will be USD 1.5 billion,” An-Nahar Al-Jadid quoted Tebboune as saying. An-Nahar Al-Jadid newspaper is an independent Algerian daily newspaper.

The BRICS group, which currently comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, represents a significant portion of the global population and economy, accounting for more than 40 per cent of the world’s population and approximately 26 per cent of the global economy, Morocco World News reported.

Morocco World News brings the news of Morocco and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the Middle East and Morocco.

Algeria’s bid comes in the midst of what some have called a worldwide eagerness for a geopolitical reconfiguration, with many in the Global South having shown signs of displeasure with the West’s dominance over global affairs.

Amid the ongoing Ukraine war and the surging ideological clash between “the West and the Rest,” more than 40 countries are said to have expressed interest in joining the BRICS group., Morocco World News reported.

But some analysts have warned against the allure of the BRICS group in the global south, arguing that explicitly picking the Russia-China axis is not a strategically sound choice in a context of geopolitical chaos that requires strategic ambiguity, Morocco World News reported.

In September of last year, 27 bipartisan US members of Congress criticized Algeria’s arms imports from Russia and called for the North African country to be sanctioned under the “Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act.”

Similarly, 17 members of the EU Parliament lambasted Algeria in November of last year for politically and financially supporting Russia by being “among the top four buyers of Russian arms in the world.” (ANI)

ALSO READ-Algeria formally applies for BRICS membership

Tags Algeria, brics

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Algeria formally applies for BRICS membership

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 22 July 2023
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Algeria’s first contribution in the BRICS bank will be USD 1.5 billion, reports Asian Lite News

Morocco World News brings the news of Morocco and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the Middle East and Morocco.

ALSO READ: EU renews sanctions over Russia

Tags Algeria, Brazil, brics, china, India, russia, SOUTH AFRICA

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Algeria, France vow to examine colonial past

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 28 August 2022
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Macron announced that an additional 8,000 Algerian students would be admitted to study in France this year, joining 30,000 already in the country…reports Asian Lite News

Algeria and France have announced they would examine the complex and painful history of France’s colonial rule of the North African country while expanding cooperation with future joint projects.

“We want to build the future together,” said French President Emmanuel Macron at the start of a three-day visit to Algeria. The goal is to turn “a new page in our bilateral relations,” he said.

Macron hopes to announce joint industry, research, energy, sport and culture ventures. Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune also expressed hopes for a new chapter in relations and closer ties between the two, particularly in the areas of trade, technology and culture.

The two sides said they would work to set up a commission of historians from both countries. These academics would go through various archives to dig up the truth about the colonial era, said Macron.

The goal is not to brush aside the joint history of the two countries, but that history shouldn’t stand in the future’s way, Macron said.

Lingering questions about the colonial era routinely complicate ties between Algeria and France.

Algerians fought from 1954 to 1962 to end French control, which began in 1830. Hundreds of thousands died and many topics related to the war were long taboo in France. Macron has been making efforts to build bridges.

France also hopes to boost the amount of gas it imports from Algeria as Russian cuts to energy supplies have left Paris facing shortages. Macron is joined by Catherine MacGregor, head of French power company Engie, on his trip. Italy signed a gas deal with Algeria in April.

The three-day visit that ended on Saturday came less than two months after Algeria marked six decades of independence following 132 years of French rule and a devastating eight-year war.

It also came as European powers scrambled to replace Russian energy imports – including with supplies from Algeria, Africa’s top gas exporter, which in turn is seeking to expand its clout in North Africa and the Sahel.

In their joint declaration, the two leaders said “France and Algeria have decided to open a new era … laying the foundation for a renewed partnership expressed through a concrete and constructive approach, focused on future projects and youth.”

At the signing ceremony, Tebboune addressed his guest in French, gushing over an “excellent, successful visit … which allowed for a rapprochement which would not have been possible without the personality of President Macron himself.”

Ties between Paris and Algiers have seen repeated crises over the years.

They had been particularly cool since last year when Macron questioned Algeria’s existence as a nation before the French occupation and accused the government of fomenting “hatred towards France”.

Tebboune withdrew his country’s ambassador in response and banned French military aircraft from its airspace.

Normal diplomatic relations have since resumed, along with overflights to French army bases in sub-Saharan Africa.

After promising to “build a new pact”, Macron was in the spiritual home of Rai music on Saturday, visiting a record shop made famous by French-Algerian singer DJ Snake’s recent hit of the same name, Disco Maghreb.

He also met athletes and artists and went for a somewhat chaotic walk in the streets where police struggled with onlookers trying to shake his hand or take photos.

On Friday evening, Macron had dinner with Algerian writer Kamel Daoud and other Oran personalities.

He had also met young entrepreneurs who questioned him on the difficulties of getting visas to France, the decline of the French language in its former colony and the contentious issues around the two countries’ painful past.

Macron announced that an additional 8,000 Algerian students would be admitted to study in France this year, joining 30,000 already in the country.

He also announced the creation of a joint commission of historians to examine the colonial period and the ruinous eight-year war that ended it.

But in France, both left and right-wing politicians were angered by the proposal.

Socialist party leader Olivier Faure noted that Macron had, in 2017, called French colonialism a “crime against humanity”, and then later questioned the existence of Algeria as a nation prior to the colonial period.

“The lightness with which he deals with the subject is an insult to wounded memories,” Faure tweeted.

Far-right leader Thomas Menage tweeted that Algeria should stop “using its past to avoid establishing true, friendly diplomatic relations”.

ALSO READ-Algeria, Niger, Nigeria ink deal on gas pipeline

Tags Algeria, france

Africa News

Algeria, Niger, Nigeria ink deal on gas pipeline

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 29 July 2022
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The idea was first proposed more than 40 years ago and an agreement signed between the countries in 2009, but progress stalled…reports Asian Lite News

Algeria, Niger and Nigeria have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the construction of a gas pipeline across the Sahara Desert that will supply Europe with additional gas, said the Algerian Energy Minister.

The signing ceremony was held in Algiers, capital of Algeria, in the presence of the Energy Ministers of the three African countries, and came in the wake of a trilateral meeting on the Trans-Saharan Gas-Pipeline (TSGP) on Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported.

“Today’s meeting follows two previous meetings respectively in Niamey in February and in Abuja in June,” Algerian Energy and Mines Minister Mohamed Arkab told reporters.

“We have taken a number of decisions and we are making remarkable advance in the construction of this strategic project,” he said.

The TSGP, a mega gas pipeline project linking Algeria, Niger and Nigeria, is expected to span 4,000 km and could send up to 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year.

The idea was first proposed more than 40 years ago and an agreement signed between the countries in 2009, but progress stalled.

Two weeks, ago Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi arrived in Algeria for a one-day visit, and held talks with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune over several issues of common interest.

Reports said that Algeria would raise its gas shipments to Italy by 4 billion cubic metres per year, without providing a timeline for the increased delivery round, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Algerian energy giant Sonatrach will ensure the delivery of the additional natural gas shipment to its Italian partners, including Eni, APS news agency reported on Friday.

Algeria has already delivered 13.9 billion cubic metres of gas to Italy so far in 2022. In 2021, the North African country exported 21.2 billion cubic metres of natural gas to Italy.

ALSO READ-Saudi receives envoys of Benin and Algeria

Tags Algeria, Niger, NIGERIA

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Algeria, Italy agree to boost energy ties

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 19 July 2022
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The visit of Draghi focused on finalizing deals to increase Algerian natural gas supply to Italy to replace the possible cut of Russian gas supply…reports Asian Lite News

Algeria and Italy on Monday signed 16 cooperation agreements in energy and other fields during Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s one-day visit.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune held a meeting with Draghi and the two sides signed 16 agreements in the fields of hydrocarbons and renewable energy, investment, pharmaceutical industry, scientific research and so on.

“Tomorrow (Tuesday) we will sign a 4-billion-U.S. dollar deal with Occidental, Eni and TotalEnergies, which will allow supplying Italy with a large quantity of Algerian natural gas,” said Tebboune at a joint press briefing, stressing the commitment between the two countries to pursuing energy cooperation.

The two leaders also discussed regional and international issues, as well as global food security, he added.

For his part, the Italian prime minister said that Algeria is a “key” country for Italy in the field of energy, stressing that the two countries have to strengthen their friendly ties in a bid to face several common challenges.

He noted that over the recent months, Algeria has become the main gas supplier for Italy.

The visit of Draghi focused on finalizing deals to increase Algerian natural gas supply to Italy to replace the possible cut of Russian gas supply.

On Friday, Algeria announced that it would increase its gas exports to Italy by 4 billion cubic meters. The Algerian energy giant Sonatrach will ensure the delivery of the additional natural gas shipment to its Italian partners, including Eni, according to the official Algeria Press Service.

Algeria has already delivered 13.9 billion cubic meters of gas to Italy so far in 2022. In 2021, the North African country exported 21.2 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Italy.

ALSO READ-ALGERIA@60

Tags Algeria, ITALY

Africa News

ALGERIA@60

Algeria held a grand military parade to celebrate the 60th anniversary of its independence from French colonialism, with the attendance of senior local and foreign officials.

In a televised message before the parade, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said the Independence Day celebrations “bear the meanings of loyalty to the martyrs, and to the eternal message of November” 1954, referring to the victory of the Algerian War of Independence.

Tebboune, who is also commander-in-chief of the People’s National Army, inspected parade formations of land, air and naval forces as well as the National Gendarmerie as they passed through a seaside square near the newly built Grand Mosque of Algiers.

The parade also featured hundreds of military vehicles, including missile launchers, armored personnel carriers, and Soviet-era tanks. After the flyover of Algerian fighter jets in a triangle formation, a showcase of warships including frigates and submarines concluded the parade.

Senior Algerian military officials including Army Chief of Staff Said Chengriha attended the parade, together with foreign leaders and ministers, including the presidents of Tunisia, Ethiopia and Niger. (Algerian Ministry of National Defense/Handout via Xinhua)

ALSO READ:Algeria, Egypt To cement ties

Tags AFRICA, Algeria

Arab News

Algeria, Egypt To cement ties

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 1 July 2022
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Algeria and Egypt launched an economic forum in Algiers to boost economic partnership…reports Asian Lite News

Algeria and Egypt launched an economic forum in Algiers to boost economic partnership, with the attendance of Algerian Prime Minister Ayman Benabderrahmane and his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly.

In his opening address to the Algerian-Egyptian Economic Forum, Benabderrahmane hailed Egypt as “one of Algeria’s most important Arab partners” in terms of investments and trade volumes.

The Algerian government “is working to modernize the banking and financial system and draw up a new investment law to respond to the concerns of domestic and foreign economic operators,” he noted.

Madbouly, who was concluding his two-day visit to Algeria, said in a speech at the forum that Egypt, which has seen an improved business environment domestically through reforms, welcomes Algerian investors.

Egypt has taken measures to encourage private investments, including amending tax and investment laws, said the Egyptian premier. The forum was also attended by business representatives of both countries.

Later on Thursday, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune met with the Egyptian delegations led by Madbouly in his office, discussing ways to boost economic ties and cooperation in various fields, state-run Algeria Press Service reported.

Algeria Snaps Ties With Spain

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 10 June 2022
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Algerian Army Chief Said Chengriha

Algeria suspends friendship treaty with Spain over Western Sahara issue

Algeria has announced suspension of the Treaty of Friendship, Good-neighbourliness and Cooperation signed with Spain 20 years ago to protest Madrid’s shift in position on Western Sahara.

Wednesday’s announcement came hours after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reportedly said his government’s policy shift on Western Sahara has “improved (Spain’s) bilateral relations with Morocco”, reports Xinhua news agency

In March, the Spanish government shifted its long-standing position on Western Sahara by endorsing Morocco’s autonomy plan for the territory, paving the way for easing diplomatic tensions between the two kingdoms.

The new Spanish position “violates international legitimacy, and directly contributes to the deterioration of the situation in Western Sahara and the region as a whole”, the Algerian statement said.

The friendship treaty agreed on October 8, 2002 with Spain has framed the development of bilateral relations between Algiers and Madrid, it noted.

Western Sahara is claimed by Morocco, but the Algeria-based Polisario Front movement has been fighting for its independence. Algeria recalled its ambassador to Madrid in March after the position shift of the Spanish government on Western Sahara.

Meanwhile, Algeria and France have been working on reviving their bilateral relations, said French Foreign Minister Jean Yves Le Drian during his visit to the North African country.

France and Algeria “were working on reviving bilateral relations,” said Le Drian after his meeting with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, adding that “Algeria and France share historical, deep and multiple human relations that bring together the two peoples.”

The French top diplomat said the two countries’ cooperation on security is indispensable in the region, while stressing the urgency of relaunching the transition process in Libya and improving the situation in the Sahel region.

He said that France and Algeria also share major challenges amid the situation in Ukraine and its repercussions on Europe’s security and international stability, noting that Europe has to diversify energy resources.

ALSO READ:Lebanon, Algeria sign deal on criminals extradition, judicial cooperation

Le Drian said the two countries agreed to resume dialogue on a number of cooperation activities including immigration and the fight against terrorism.

This is Le Drian’s second visit to Algeria within four months.

France has been trying to mend its ties with Algeria, which were soured by Algeria’s decision to recall its ambassador to France in October 2021 in protest over French President Emmanuel Macron’s critical remarks against Algeria. Macron criticized the “political-military system” in Algeria, a former French colony, for rewriting Algerian history and fomenting “hatred” toward France

Israel Ties

Morocco and Israel have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in high-tech innovation and scientific research.

Moroccan Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation Abdellatif Miraoui, and visiting Israeli Innovation, Science and Technology Minister Orit Farkash-Hacohen signed a scientific cooperation agreement on Thursday in Rabat, which also covers artificial intelligence, agricultural technologies, and water management, Xinhua news agency reported, citing official RIM radio.

“I am thankful for the honor to come to Morocco following the Abraham Accords and sign an important cooperation agreement,” Farkash-Hacohen was quoted as saying.

“Together we will address challenges in the sectors of renewable energy, water technologies, transportation, science, environment, and health,” she told a signing ceremony.

For his part, Miraoui said the agreement will advance cooperation between universities of both countries and scientific research programs in green energy, sustainable agriculture, health and modern industries.

Tags Algeria, SPAIN

Arab News

New Friendship in the horizon

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 6 June 2022
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Algerian kids taste Zongzi as token of cross-continental friendship

“Nihao!” “Bonjour!”, more than 20 Chinese and Algerian preschoolers shouted out to each other via video links, celebrating the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival with fun activities such as making Zongzi, a sticky rice dumpling, and singing songs.

The event, recently held by Chinese and local Algerian employees of the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), also celebrated International Children’s Day fell on Wednesday.

When the Algerian children sang Frere Jacques, a popular French nursery song, the familiar melody undoubtedly caught the attention of the Chinese kids on the other side of the camera, for it was sung across Chinese households as the nursery rhyme Two Tigers.

Wearing traditional costumes of their respective countries, the children learned about each other’s language, the origin and customs of the Dragon Boat Festival, and did forehead-painting and color rope knitting.

For many Algerian kids, Zongzi, the glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo or reeds, was the yummiest part of the party, though it easily went sticky to prepare and cook.

Behind the idea of a cross-continent party is Beibei, a 5-year-old Chinese girl’s wish to send out a panda toy to the Algerian children, whom she used to hear of from her mother but has never got a chance to meet.

Beibei was told by her mother Li Pingyan, freshly return from Algeria, that the kids in the remote North African country “have big eyes, often eat couscous and especially like football.”

“I want to give them a Bing Dwen Dwen,” said Beibei, speaking of a panda mascot of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics which styles an ice-made sports helmet and went viral in China during the games in February.

Her yearning inspired Li to contact her Algerian colleagues. Luckily, Hamriche Amina, an accountant at CSCEC Algeria for five years, said her son Badis and daughter Idris were also curious about what their Chinese friends look like.

ALSO READ: UAE education system gets a revamp

“I like Bing Dwen Dwen and the painting that Beibei gave me. There are bridges, national flags, and both of us in the painting!” Idris said while holding a Bing Dwen Dwen toy and Beibei’s painting as gifts.

Ouaheb Mohamed, who accompanied his 4-year-old daughter Melina to the event, said his daughter is very willing to learn about Chinese festival culture and make Chinese friends. “She thinks that China’s national flag is very beautiful. Most importantly, I am so happy to share this very beautiful moment with my daughter.”

For Bardis, 6, what he got in the event is not just a Bing Dwen Dwen, but also special holiday memory and “Zongzi friendship” from China.

“Welcome to Algeria,” he exclaimed, saying he is already looking forward to meeting new Chinese friends face to face.

Tags Algeria, arab