New cooperation projects with Cuba and Mauritania

Algeria and Cuba have signed eight conventions on health and higher education, covering areas including development of vaccines, animal experimentation and technology transfer. Meanwhile, Algeria and Mauritania are planning to cooperate in programmes in the fields of oceanography and aquaculture.

The Cuba deals

The agreements between Algeria and Cuba were signed in Havana during an official visit to the Caribbean island state by Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal, reported the Algérie Presse Service of Algiers.

A memorandum of understanding between the Institut Pasteur d’Algérie, or IPA, and Cuba’s Instituto Finlay de Vacunas, or IFV, relates in the short term to a vaccine production unit, and consists of two contracts for technical assistance and technology transfer to be completed by mid-2017, said Zoubir Harrat, director general of the IPA.

A second memorandum of understanding between the two institutions concerns cooperation in the medium and long term in development, production and marketing of the vaccines. It provides for a management and monitoring committee comprising representatives from the two governments and experts from the IPA and IFV which will meet at least once a year.

IPA also signed a letter of intention with the Cuban centre Cenpalab, which specialises in animal breeding. This will establish a training programme for staff employed in animal laboratory breeding and experimentation, reported APS.

Next, a technology transfer agreement in the field of biotechnology was signed between a private Algerian company and Cuban group Phamracuba.

Concerning higher education, conventions were established between the Université d’Alger 1 and Université d’Alger 2 with the University of Havana; the École Nationale Polytechnique d’Oran and the University of Cienfuegos; and between two IT specialist schools, the École Nationale d’Informatique d’Alger and the Universidad de las Ciencias Informáticas.

Sellal emphasised the “excellence” and “strength” of relations between Algeria and Cuba, and called for new partnerships between the two countries in the health sector, especially to fight together against cancer.

Cooperation plans with Mauritania

Algeria and Mauritania agreed to develop their cooperation in oceanography and aquaculture through strengthened joint scientific research and exchange of expertise, reported APS.

Representatives of the two countries were attending a meeting of the technical committee of the fishing sector in Nouakchott in Mauritania, in preparation for the 18th session of the Joint Algerian-Mauritanian Grand Commission later this year.

The committee proposed they should intensify efforts to relaunch a network of North African research institutes in the sector of oceanography and cooperation in aquaculture, as well as exchanges of experts to ensure sustainable development and strengthening of food safety and action against rural poverty.

This article is drawn from local media. University World News cannot vouch for the accuracy of the original reports.