NEWS RELEASES
PETTIGREW-LED TRADE MISSION: SNC-LAVALIN SIGNS $600 MILLION MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING IN ALGERIA
October 16, 2000 ( 11:40 a.m. EDT) No. 262
PETTIGREW-LED TRADE MISSION: SNC-LAVALIN SIGNS
$600 MILLION MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING IN ALGERIA
International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew witnessed the signing of memorandums of
understanding and contracts worth over $605 million at a ceremony in Algiers yesterday
evening.
At the signing ceremony, SNC-Lavalin International Inc. of Montreal, Quebec, inked a
$600 million memorandum of understanding with the Algerian government for a project
to supply the cities along the Tizi-Ouzou/Algiers corridor with drinking water. This project
could create 150 jobs in Canada, most of them in Quebec.
"During President Bouteflika's state visit to Canada last May, it became clear to us that
Algeria's economic development would continue apace, and that Canada could
therefore forge solid economic links with that country," remarked Minister Pettigrew.
"The results have exceeded our expectations."
Upwards of 600 Algerian businesspeople came out to discuss business opportunities
with the Canadian delegation, which included representatives of 80 firms and some 100
delegates -- proof positive of the Algerian business community's unprecedented interest
in doing business with Canadians.
Algerian Prime Minister Ali Benflis, who had already scheduled a bilateral meeting with
Minister Pettigrew, personally attended an information session where he urged Algerian
and Canadian executives to strengthen their business ties.
Moreover, the Banque Algérienne de Développement and Canada's Export
Development Corporation (EDC) agreed in principle to extend existing lines of credit
($100 million) between the African Development Bank and EDC. These have been in
place since 1973 and have been a key feature of Algerian-Canadian trade relations.
In addition, SONATRACH and EDC will begin negotiations to establish a new direct line
of credit to more actively support trade between the Canadian and Algerian oil
industries.
Canada's leading trading partner in Africa and the Middle East, Algeria is our 16th-largest trading partner overall. In 1999, bilateral trade surpassed the billion dollar mark
for the fourth year in a row.
After visiting Morocco and Algeria, the mission will be in Spain and Portugal from
October 16 to 21.
Firms that signed agreements in Algeria:
• Memorandum of understanding between SNC-Lavalin International Inc. of Montreal,
Quebec, and Algeria's Agence nationale de l'eau potable industrielle et de
l'assainissement [national industrial drinking water and purification agency].
• Letter of intent for the creation of a joint venture between RSW International Inc. of
Montreal, Quebec, and Algeria's Entreprise nationale des études hydrauliques (ENHYD)
[national corporation for hydraulic studies].
• Partnership agreements between Neosignal of Lasalle, Quebec and Forem of Algeria,
and between Neosignal and Alpha Design of Algeria.
• Letter of agreement between PanGeo Pharma Inc. of Montreal, Quebec, and
Digromed of Algeria.
• Partnership agreement between Elix Inc. of Montreal, Quebec, and EEPAD of Algeria.
• Memorandum of understanding between Géomat International Inc. of Montreal,
Quebec, and Geocomputer of Algeria.
• Memorandum of understanding between Dessau-Soprin International of Montreal,
Quebec, and Algeria's EPA-ANSA Sidi Abdellah.
• Partnership agreement between Connexions commerciales internationales of
Verdun, Quebec, and L'Entreprise de promotion immobilière de Bejaia.
• Partnership agreement between Groupe Canam Manac of Ville de Saint-Georges,
Quebec, and Groupe ADF of Terrebonne, Quebec (two Canadian firms), with an eye to
carrying out projects in Algeria.
• Letter of intent for a partnership between the Atelier d'Usinage Tracy of Tracy,
Quebec, and Algeria's Entreprise nationale de charpente et de Chaudronnerie (ENCC)
[national frame and boilermaking corporation].
• Sanitary agreement between the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Algeria's
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Sylvie Bussières
Office of the Minister for International Trade
(613) 992-7332
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
Christopher Hull
Political Advisor
Canadian Embassy, Algiers
Telephone: (213.2) 91.49.51
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