Algiers. “Relations between Italy and Algeria have a thousand-year history, dating back to the time when the first boats began to sail the Mediterranean. Our countries are linked by solid relations of friendship and by an important bilateral collaboration in many fields, including that of Defense”.
This is what General Luciano Portolano, Secretary General of Defense and National Director of Armaments, said at the end of the meeting with his counterpart, General Mohamed Salah Benbicha, during the work of the 12th Bilateral Italy-Algeria, which took place yesterday in the capital of the North African country.
The occasion made it possible to renew the relationships of esteem and collaboration, to resume the discussion on some bilateral projects slowed down by the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as to lay the foundations for the events that may materialize in the years to come.
In particular, in the field of industrial relations already in place, the important joint venture between Leonardo and the Algerian company Establissement Public de Caractère Industriel/Establissement de Developement des Industries Aeronautiques (EPIC/EDIA) for the on-site production of helicopters was discussed.
The Segredifesa delegation also presented some excellences of the Italian defense industry in some sectors, including naval, helicopter, radar, avionics, electronics, naval combat systems, telecommunications and missile defense.
The Bilateral Committee originates from the agreement in the field of Defense between the Government of the Italian Republic and the Government of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, signed in Rome on May 15, 2003. Subsequently, the two nations signed various protocols, interministerial conventions and intergovernmental agreements.
Algeria sees Italy as an important partner of reference, from the point of view of military equipment, both for the high reliability of Italian products and for the willingness of Italian industries to start collaborations that provide for cooperation through the exchange, transfer of technologies and training of crews, technical personnel and workers in Algeria.
