ALGIERS- The International Public Works Fair of Algiers (SITP 2015) kicked off Wednesday at the Pins Maritimes Exhibition Centre, in Algiers, with the participation of 360 exhibitors, including 167 companies from 12 countries, where Italy is this edition’s guest of honour.
The fair was inaugurated in the presence of Minister of Public Works Abdelkader Ouali, other members of the government as well as the Italian Minister of Infrastructures and Transport Graziano Delrio.
The participating countries are Germany, Belgium, China, Spain, France, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Tunisia and Turkey.
This fair is being held under the theme “basic infrastructures, carrier of economic development: Building and preserving.”
In a joint press conference with the Italian minister, Ouali said he is pleased with the strong participation, both national and foreign, underlining that Italy remains Algeria’s strategic partner in the field of public works.
He said that within 15 years, the number of public works companies in Algeria increased from 200 to 3,800, allowing a “rapid development of its basic infrastructures which will contribute to the development of the country and its economic growth.”
For his part, Delrio expressed the hope that the fair could enable the Italian companies to create partnerships with the Algerian companies.
He welcomed “the progress made by Algeria in the area of infrastructures,” affirming “Italy’s willingness to accompany Algeria in all its investment programmes and execution of its projects,” through technical assistance, training and human resources programmes as well as the transfer of technology.