The President of the Council of the Nation, Azouz Nasri, proposed Monday the establishment of an Algerian-Swiss Business Council to strengthen commercial ties and assist economic operators across both countries. The suggestion was advanced during his meeting in Algiers with the Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to Algeria, Marion Weichelt Krupski, who paid him a courtesy visit.
During the diplomatic session, both sides reviewed the state of Algerian-Swiss relations along with future growth prospects, placing special emphasis on economic, judicial, and parliamentary cooperation.
Azouz Nasri highlighted the positive momentum registered in bilateral ties over the past two years, marked by an acceleration of high-level visits and exchanges. He noted that this progress demonstrates a shared determination to deepen political dialogue and broaden areas of joint cooperation.
Turning to economic affairs, the Senate leader underscored the current drive within the Algerian economy, fueled by structural reforms, business climate enhancements, and major infrastructure initiatives across rail transport, manufacturing, mining, renewable energy, and seawater desalination.
In his view, these transformations unlock promising opportunities for Swiss corporations, encouraging them to expand their presence in Algeria through direct investment, business-to-business exchanges, and high-value, long-term partnerships.
Within this context, he stressed the necessity of exploring institutional channels to support this momentum, primarily through the creation of an Algerian-Swiss Business Council. Such an organization would help streamline interactions among commercial actors, incentivize investment, and elevate bilateral trade to match the full capacity of both economies.
Azouz Nasri also voiced his desire to maintain sectoral collaboration and finalize pending agreement proposals, specifically covering road transport, national archives, higher education, and scientific research.
Judicial cooperation featured prominently during the talks. Azouz Nasri commended the quality of mutual legal assistance between the two states, revealing that over $110 million in embezzled assets frozen in Switzerland had been successfully recovered.
He expressed hope for the continuation and expansion of this legal partnership, particularly regarding international letters rogatory and formal requests for the restitution of illegally transferred national assets.
Additionally, the Council of the Nation President recalled the deep bonds of friendship uniting Algeria and Switzerland, pointing to Switzerland’s historical support during Algeria’s War of National Liberation. He also extended congratulations to Marion Weichelt Krupski upon her posting to Algeria, wishing her full success in her new assignment.
Shared Perspectives on Global Issues
The discussions extended to several international topics. Azouz Nasri reaffirmed Algeria’s unwavering commitment to peaceful dialogue, adherence to international law, and the reinforcement of multilateralism.
He reiterated Algeria’s diplomatic stances regarding the Palestinian question, centered on the right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent, sovereign state with Al-Quds as its capital, alongside the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination.
Both diplomats addressed crisis spots across the Sahel region, emphasizing the urgency of political solutions and constructive dialogue that respect state sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Azouz Nasri noted the shared experience of Algeria and Switzerland serving as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council in 2024, emphasizing their close coordination on humanitarian issues, civilian protection, and delivering aid to conflict zones.
For her part, the Swiss Ambassador described bilateral relations as “excellent” and affirmed her country’s commitment to advancing them further. She recalled the historical connection between Switzerland and Algeria, emphasizing Switzerland’s neutral stance and good offices in facilitating preliminary discussions and negotiations leading up to the Evian Accords.
Marion Weichelt Krupski acknowledged the economic opportunities and investment potential present in Algeria, calling for enhanced efforts to promote these prospects among Swiss businesses.
On the parliamentary front, both parties highlighted the contribution of parliamentary diplomacy in supporting state-to-state relations. Azouz Nasri expressed the Council of the Nation’s readiness to deepen cooperation with the Swiss legislature, turning it into a forum for consultation and dialogue on matters of mutual interest.
Finally, both representatives reiterated their joint determination to continue building Algerian-Swiss ties, drawing upon their historical capital to forge a modernized, diversified partnership grounded in mutual respect and shared interests.