GERARD SHRODER in Algeria.

The german chancellor Gerard SHRODER was in Algiers last october in the first high level visit, to open a new chapter in ties with Algeria which is, since 1991 shunned the country because of its intern problems linked to terrorism.

Having been received on arrival at HOUARI BOUMEDIENE international airport by the algerian president Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA, Shroder accompanied by a top official delegation brought the industrialists with him indicating the economic dimension of the trip in addition to discussions on Algeria debt owed to Germany.

The economic ties between the two countries that constitute an important dimension of Shroder‘s visit, brought to a successful conclusion between the two counterparts.

The balance in bilateral trade has known in 2004 a sensible drop from 879 million dolars in 2003 to 624 million dollars this year.
To increase the bilateral trade , Algeria and Germany have signed two agreements of partnership.

The fisrt is linked to the acquisition by SIEMENS AG of the majority of algerian society of railway signalisation (ESTEL).
This contract was co-signed by Abdelhamid LALAIMIA, general director of SNTF (societé nationale des transports ferroviares) and Frederich SMAXWILL,adjoint director of SIEMENS tranportation system that detains
51% of ESTEL.

The second contract between algerians and germans deals with CMA society (complexe de moteurs tracteurs) (engine tractor complex) situated in Constantine, a department in eastern Algiers 300 km,and DEUTZ.

A production of german product (DEUTZ) under licence
from the begining of march 2005 amounts to 24 million
euros.

The german chancellor announced the creation of a cordinator of economic relations from November 2004 whose task would to promote and develop durably the relations in the domain of economy between the two
countries.

With this greatest initiative ,german investors would receive incentives especialy in investing in Algeria tortured by unemployment crisis.
Kaci RACELMA