President Pirc Musar and Algerian President Tebboune commit to closer cooperation between the two countries

Economic cooperation between the two countries dates back to the former Yugoslavia, although the two countries only established embassies last year. Algeria is Slovenia's third most important economic partner among African countries, with bilateral trade reaching €95.6 million in 2024. One of the key themes of the talks between the two Presidents was strengthening cooperation on artificial intelligence, police cooperation, renewable energy (solar and wind), agriculture and beekeeping, as well as information and communication, water and space technologies. In their talks, they also pointed to the potential for establishing closer partnerships in these areas. During the visit, several memoranda of understanding and cooperation were signed to facilitate further collaboration between the two countries.

President Pirc Musar expressed particular satisfaction with the cooperation between Geoplin and Sonatrach, as the latter currently provides almost half of Slovenia's annual natural gas supply. She also underlined Slovenia's support for the SouthH2 Corridor project and welcomed Algeria's commitment to cooperate with the EU to ensure a fast and competitive energy transition. She stressed the importance of the MED9 regional initiative, currently chaired by Slovenia, which has the long-term goal of transforming the Mediterranean into a green energy hub.

The Algerian side also expressed an interest in exchanging experiences and expertise on drought management. Slovenia, which hosts the Drought Management Centre for Southeastern Europe, has extensive experience in this field, particularly in drought preparedness and mitigation.   Among other things, Slovenia hosted the 10th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention and has assumed the presidency of the Convention Bureau for the 2024–2027 period.

In addition to strengthening political and economic cooperation, the two Presidents also discussed topical issues addressed by the UN Security Council, where both Slovenia and Algeria serve as non-permanent members. They touched on developments in the Middle East, Africa, including Western Sahara, and the situation in Ukraine and the Western Balkans.

President Pirc Musar stressed that Slovenia is committed to a peaceful and sustainable resolution of conflicts in the Middle East and Africa and strongly supports the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. Slovenia also consistently supports the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries and their progress on the path towards EU membership.

With regard to Western Sahara, she underlined her support for Slovenia's position on finding a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution under the auspices of the United Nations, which is based on compromise and will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, in accordance with UN resolutions and the principles of the UN Charter. 

In the afternoon, the two Presidents attended a business forum at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, where they addressed business leaders from both countries. President Pirc Musar said: "This morning, a number of memoranda and a general declaration of cooperation were signed, reflecting our common will and efforts to turn words into action – to build long-term ties between our companies, institutions and our two countries as a whole. I am confident that today's signatures will contribute to increasing the dynamics of our economic relations. My belief in the need to strengthen cooperation is further supported by the business proposals for long-term strategic partnerships for technological and sustainable development that are already on the table."

In closing, she said: "Let today's forum not be just a one-off event, but the beginning of a long-term, lasting and mutually beneficial cooperation. Let this be the day we take a step forward – together as partners – into a future based on sustainability and progress. We are opening a new chapter in our economic partnership."