I take this opportunity to greet all the Indian citizens in Algeria and all Algerians on this occasion of 63rd Anniversary of India’s Proclamation as a Republic. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of Algeria’s Independence and also commemorates the 50 Years of Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between India and Algeria. Various events are being held to mark these celebrations.
2. India and Algeria have historical relations which go beyond 50 years. The annals of history provide evidence of contacts between Indian and Algerian nationalists even before 1962 and 1947 when both Algeria and India gained independence from colonial powers respectively.
3. The two nations have worked together after independence in the area of Non-Alignment, South-South Cooperation, Anti-Apartheid and Anti-Colonial Struggle. We have collaborated at various multilateral fora including the United Nations, World Bank, IMF etc. for the betterment of the developing countries.
4. To mark the 50th Anniversary of Algeria’s Independence and to celebrate the 50 Years of our Diplomatic Relations, we are bringing in various cultural troupes which included Manipuri Thangta Cultural Troupe which performed at Algiers, Bejaia and Kolea (Tipaza). On 26th January 2013 itself, we are going to have a 12-member Dance Troupe inspired by ‘Bollywood’, the world’s largest cinema industry, which is also celebrating its 100 years since the first Indian film, ‘Raja Harishchandra’ was produced in 1913. This Troupe is going to perform in addition to Algiers, at Tizi Ouzou, Constantine, Batna and Kolea (Tipaza). We are also having an Indian Food Festival commencing from 26th January at Hotel Sofitel, where the ‘Bollywood’ Troupe would also perform on 27th, 28th and 29th January 2013. We are also planning to have a Film Festival marking the 100 years of Indian Cinema. An Algerian Sufi Troupe performed in India in November 2012.
5. On commercial and economic front, our trade has crossed US$3.5 billion and India is now the 10th largest economic and commercial partner with Algeria. We are also working on establishing a joint venture for production of chemical fertilizers based on natural gas in Algeria. There are 15 Indian companies working in Algeria in diverse fields like pharmaceuticals, construction, power transmission, railways and hospitality industry. We just had a delegation from the Engineering Export Promotion Council of India which had a Buyer-Seller Meet in Algiers on 14-15 January 2013 with its Algerian counterparts. India also participated in the Algeria-Expo with about 20 companies taking part. However, a tremendous potential exists to further increase contacts and contracts in commercial and economic domain, and especially in the field of Information Technology, civil construction and pharmaceuticals.
6. I take this opportunity, once again, to greet all the Indians in Algeria and my Algerian brothers & sisters on this occasion of the 63rd Anniversary of India’s Republic Day.
(K.S. Bhardwaj)
Ambassador
