FM Fidan inaugurates Algeria’s Oran consulate amid growing relations

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan officially opened Türkiye’s new Consulate General in Oran on Sunday, marking another milestone in the strengthening relationship between the two nations with centuries of shared history.

The opening ceremony, held during Fidan’s official visit to Algeria on April 20, comes as Türkiye-Algeria relations have seen significant growth, particularly over the past two decades.

“This new consulate will serve as a bridge, further connecting our peoples and facilitating increased cooperation,” Fidan said during the ceremony.

Türkiye’s diplomatic, economic presence in Algeria

The expansion of Türkiye’s diplomatic presence in Algeria comes as bilateral trade between the nations reached a record $6.3 billion in 2023, according to official figures released last June.

This represents a significant increase from the $3.5 billion recorded in 2018.

Türkiye’s presence in Algeria’s economy has grown substantially, with approximately 1,500 Turkish companies now operating in the country.

These firms have a combined investment volume exceeding $6 billion, while Turkish construction companies have implemented 636 projects worth $21.3 billion in Algeria.

The relationship between the two nations has deep historical roots dating back to the 16th century, when northern Algeria was part of the Ottoman Empire until 1830.

Though the relationship experienced tension during Algeria’s independence struggle in the 1950s, when Türkiye initially sided with France in U.N. votes, ties have steadily improved since then-Prime Minister Turgut Ozal’s landmark 1985 visit to Algeria, during which he apologized for Türkiye’s earlier stance.

Algeria as beacon of ‘island of political and economic stability’ in North Africa

In recent years, the relationship has expanded beyond economic ties to include security cooperation. The nations have signed agreements to combat drug trafficking, human trafficking and organized crime while also increasing military cooperation, including technology transfer and joint military exercises.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described Algeria as “an island of political and economic stability in the region” and noted that the North African nation is Türkiye’s first trading partner in Africa.

Algeria currently ranks as Türkiye’s 23rd largest export market and 25th largest supplier of imports, while Türkiye is Algeria’s 6th biggest economic partner.

Energy cooperation forms a significant part of the relationship, with Algeria serving as Türkiye’s fourth-largest natural gas supplier, providing approximately 8% of Türkiye’s natural gas imports.

The new consulate in Oran is expected to further facilitate business connections, cultural exchanges, and consular services for the growing number of citizens traveling between the two countries.

Both nations have expressed ambitions to further increase trade, with a stated goal of reaching $10 billion in bilateral trade in the coming years. The opening of the consulate follows a series of high-level exchanges, including Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s visit to Türkiye in May 2022.