On January 15, 2025, the Vietnam Trade Office in Algeria organized a business roundtable with representatives from Algerian trade promotion agencies and enterprises to review economic and trade cooperation between the two countries in 2024 and to discuss measures to enhance bilateral relations in 2025.
The event brought together delegates from the Algerian Organization for Economic Development (ONDE), the Arab–African Investment and Trade Center (CAAID), the Algerian Forum for Import–Export, Trade, Investment and Industry (AFIETI), and 15 Algerian companies engaged in the agriculture, food, forestry, and industrial sectors.
Strengthening Bilateral Trade and Investment
Table of Contents
At the meeting, Vietnam’s Commercial Counselor Hoàng Đức Nhuận presented an overview of Vietnam’s economic, trade, investment, and tourism performance in 2024, as well as the current state of Vietnam–Algeria cooperation.
According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, bilateral trade between Vietnam and Algeria reached approximately USD 220 million in 2024.
-
Vietnam’s main exports: green coffee beans, pepper, cashew nuts, desiccated coconut, seafood, and chemicals.
-
Key imports from Algeria: carob powder, pharmaceuticals, ores, recycled paper, animal feed, and chicken feet.
Successful Joint Oil Venture and Emerging Cooperation Areas
In the investment sector, the Bir Seba oil field in Algeria’s Ouargla Province — operated by the joint venture between PVEP (Vietnam), PTTEP (Thailand), and Sonatrach (Algeria) — continues to perform efficiently, maintaining an output of 16,000–18,000 barrels per day since its launch in 2015.
Beyond oil and gas, several Vietnamese business delegations visited Algeria in 2024 to explore cooperation in pharmaceuticals, functional foods, construction, and workforce supply.
Promoting Trade Events and Opportunities
During the roundtable, the Vietnam Trade Office invited Algerian agencies and businesses to participate in major trade events in Vietnam 2025, including:
-
Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival (March 2025)
-
Vietnam Expo (April and December 2025)
-
Vietnam International Sourcing Expo (September 2025)
-
Vietnam Food Expo (November 2025)
Algerian companies expressed keen interest in importing Vietnamese coffee, cashew nuts, almonds, spices, and wood products, while offering olive oil and chicken feet for export.
Strengthening Business Linkages and Market Connectivity
Algerian enterprises also showed strong interest in industrial cooperation, seeking Vietnamese partners in footwear, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals to serve both the domestic market and exports to other African countries under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
However, participants highlighted several challenges in trade transactions, including:
-
Trust and transparency in payment procedures,
-
Rising prices of agricultural commodities,
-
Import restrictions in Algeria aimed at encouraging domestic production and investment.
Future Cooperation: Toward a Stronger Vietnam–Algeria Partnership
Mr. Nabil, representative of AFIETI, announced that Algeria would send a delegation to the Vietnam Expo in Hanoi (April 2025).
Meanwhile, Mr. Mahdi Aimane from ONDE proposed establishing an online B2B platform to connect Vietnamese and Algerian enterprises.
Commercial Counselor Hoàng Đức Nhuận affirmed that both countries would continue to:
-
Complete the legal framework and establish a Vietnam–Algeria Business Council;
-
Enhance business delegation exchanges and participation in international trade fairs;
-
Strengthen information sharing and partner verification to prevent trade disputes;
-
Support private sector cooperation in investment, trade, and industrial development.
At the end of the meeting, Algerian delegates enjoyed Vietnamese coffee and confectionery and visited the sample product exhibition hall at the Vietnam Trade Office.