Doha, 06 July 2022 (Qatar Tribune)

By Ashraf Siddiqui

Algerian people achieved the freedom of their homeland after long years of persistence, determination, enormous sacrifices and heroic efforts, as they resisted oppression, coercion and extermination by the French colonialists, the Ambassador of Algeria to Qatar Dr Mustefa Boutora has said.

Algeria achieved its sovereignty 60 years ago on 5th July 1962.

At a reception hosted by him at Diplomatic Club recently, the Algerian ambassador paid tributes to the millions of martyrs who sacrificed their lives during more than 132 years of the struggle for Independence.

Those present on the occasion included Minister of State and President of Qatar National Library, Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwadi; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi; ambassador Abdulla Al-Jaber, Director of African Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ambassador Ibrahim Yousif Fakhro, Director of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ali Ibrahim Ahmed, Ambassador of Eritrea and Dean of diplomatic Corps, ambassadors, members of the media, members of the Algerian community, and guests.

Dr. Boutora said that despite the difficulties and challenges after attaining independence, the country has moved on sustainable path of development and modernization with major political reforms, adoption of Constitution and ambitious leadership.

The Algerian envoy said the country’s leadership believes in investing in human development, education and health. Algeria ranks 7th in Arab world and 91st in the world as per 2022 UN Development Index, a result of the great efforts of public authorities.

There are 66 universities, 47 national institutes, 29,000 educational institutions country wide (20,000 primary schools, 6,000 preparatory schools and 3,000 high schools) with more than 11 million students, with an annual budget of $1 billion (2022).

Dr Boutora said that country has around 400 hospitals and thousands of neighborhood health institutions, having an annual budget of $3.1 billion (2022). In addition to free education, health and social housing, the Algerian state pays close attention to providing a decent living to its citizens, with a very large budget for social transfers and assistance to low-income people, which in 2022 amounted to nearly $12.5 billion.

He said that the government assists young people financially and administratively to set up their own private institutions with qualitative support (interest-free loans, tax exemptions, free agricultural and industrial real estate plots etc.). On the economic front, the government encourages partnerships with global institutions and to attract foreign investments in a profit-winning format to promote sustainable national development, particularly in sectors including industry, agriculture and tourism. The non-petrochemical sector is estimated to generate a revenue of $7 billion by the end of the year.

Talking about bilateral relations between Qatar and Algeria, Dr Boutora said the two brotherly countries have excellent ties based on friendliness and mutual respect and the leaderships of the two countries are in constant consultation.

He said the recent visits by leaders of both countries have opened a new chapter in bilateral relations, including state visits by President Abdul Majid Tabun to Qatar in February 2022, earlier visit in same month by the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and the visit on 25 June to participate in the opening ceremony of the Mediterranean games. “These relations are further strengthened by the signing of many cooperation agreements in various fields such as the further investment in expansion of Algerian-Qatari Steel Company (BELARA) Complex, moving to the second phase of production of 4 million tons/year; and in the telecommunication sector with the total investment of around $2 billion, makes Qatar the largest investor from Arab countries in Algeria.

”The agreements include MoUs in the fields of higher education, scientific research, and technology with second executive program 2022-2025; MoU for cooperation, exchange of experiences in the family sector and social development; MoU to establish periodic Joint political consultations at the foreign ministers level, he added