ALGIERS- Members of the Algeria-Italy parliamentary friendship group at the People's National Assembly (Lower House of Parliament) held talks Sunday with their Italian counterparts, stressing the need to give fresh impetus to cooperation between the two countries, the lower house said in a statement.
According to the same source, the head of the Algerian friendship group, Kamel Laouissat, opened the meeting by praising "the renewed momentum in bilateral relations between Algeria and Italy in recent years."
He noted that the Italian parliamentary delegation's visit to Algeria was intended "to build on the achievements of the Algerian friendship group's earlier visit to Italy and to recognize the progress in joint cooperation."
Laouissat also highlighted "the exceptional level of Algerian-Italian relations, demonstrated by the exchange of high-level official visits, including the visit of the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, to Italy in 2025 and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's recent visit, mirroring the deep historical and economic bonds between the two countries."
In this regard, Laouissat urged closer partnership between "Algerian and Italian investors, particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises, industry, agriculture, green hydrogen, pharmaceuticals, digital innovation and environmental sectors," noting that Algeria's new investment law offers promising incentives.
On international affairs, the friendship group head commended the convergence of views on issues of mutual interest, reaffirming Algeria's unwavering support for just causes, most notably the Palestinian and Sahrawi questions, according to the statement.
For his part, the head of the Italian friendship group, Andrea Mascaretti, thanked his hosts for their warm welcome and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to visit the Central Army Museum and explore Algeria's rich history.
Mascaretti emphasized that "Algeria and Italy share strong bonds of friendship that demand continued work to develop and deepen them through more frequent meetings and implementation of joint economic and cultural agreements and programs."
He also referenced the strategic relationship between Algeria and Italy, particularly in energy, expressing his country's desire to expand cooperation to include major projects like green hydrogen, while strengthening the existing Sonatrach-ENI partnership based on respect for state sovereignty and the principle of mutual trust.
The statement also emphasized "the importance of facilitating economic exchanges, particularly for startups, drawing on Italian expertise in this area, while promoting cooperation in cultural and religious tourism, training, and speeding up the establishment of the Algerian-Italian Chamber of Trade."
Deputies from both sides further stressed the need to strengthen environmental cooperation, especially through technology transfer for waste recycling, and to bolster women's role as key contributors to social development, the source added.
