Chinese companies have started negotiations with Algerian companies to launch a car and lorry assembly plant project, the minister of Industry and Mines, Abdelssalem Bouchouareb, announced on 18 October. "There are Chinese companies who want to get into vehicle and lorry assembly in Algeria", the minister revealed during a press conference he jointly hosted with the president of the Council for the Promotion of South-South Cooperation of the People's Republic of China, Lyu Xinhua, on the fringes of the Algerian-Chinese economic forum.

"A known Chinese partner is currently negotiating with Algerian companies on an Algerian-Chinese assembly project which would be launched soon", Mr. Bouchouareb, who invited Chinese entrepreneurs to invest in the development of subcontracting activities and the automobile spare parts industry, added.

The minister also informed that "the Algerian authorities are ready to support Chinese investors to turn their projects into reality", while insisting on the fact that the economic relations and investment prospects which are gradually shaping up between the two countries should not be limited to the installation of an auto assembly plant.

He recalled in this spirit, the "very important" projects and investment opportunities in several fields where Chinese expertise are essential for Algeria.