Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Dr. The Most Honourable Jerome Walcott (right), greets Algeria’s Ambassador to Barbados, Abdelkader Hadjazi, at their courtesy call, today. (S. Forde-Craigg/BGIS)
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Dr. The Most Honourable Jerome Walcott, has signalled Barbados’ interest in forging stronger ties with Algeria.
Senator Walcott expressed this today during a courtesy call with the new non-resident Ambassador of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria to Barbados, Abdelkader Hadjazi, at the Ministry’s Culloden Road office.
He noted that Barbados and Algeria have had diplomatic ties for over 40 years and most of their interaction has occurred in the multilateral fora, including the African Union, International Labour Organization, United Nations, and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
Ambassador Hadjazi, who resides in Caracas, Venezuela, complimented Barbados for its clean environment, organisation, and security, and agreed to strengthen ties.
He noted that Algeria is the largest nation by area in Africa and the Arab world, and there is an innovative agricultural initiative in the desert, which makes up most of that country.
The two envoys also spoke about COVID-19 vaccines, oil and gas, renewable energy, tourism, and the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27).
Possible areas of cooperation between the two countries include a double taxation agreement, an air services agreement, a bilateral investment treaty, and a visa abolition agreement.
Also present at the courtesy call were Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Simone Rudder; Foreign Service Officer, Craig Brathwaite, and Director of the Barbados Language Centre at the Barbados Community College, Paul Blackman.
Barbados and Algeria formally established diplomatic relations on April 18, 1979.
