Political relations between Algeria and Germany are good. Even in the 1990s, when Algeria suffered the effects of Islamist terrorist attacks, Germany maintained diplomatic contacts with the country. The first trip abroad by the current President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, was to Berlin on 19 January 2020, to attend the Berlin Conference on Libya.

Germany is the fifth biggest supplier of Algerian imports. Germany’s principal exports are foodstuffs, chemical products, motor vehicles and vehicle parts, as well as machinery. Its primary imports from Algeria are oil, gas and petrochemicals. The German-Algerian Chamber of Industry and Commerce has around 400 members. After Germany having a trade surplus for years, the situation was quite different in 2022: owing to substantial increases in oil prices, there was a trade surplus in Algeria’s favour (German exports of €1.66 billion as compared to €1.97 billion in German imports).

In addition to the Joint Economic Commission agreed in 2011, the energy partnership established between the two countries in 2015 has provided another forum for promoting bilateral business contacts. The fourth German-Algerian Energy Day was held in Algiers on 20 December 2022 and focused on “Green hydrogen, renewables and energy efficiency – Working together for a new energy policy”. Germany’s delegation was led by Dr Franziska Brantner, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

Germany and Algeria have concluded a number of bilateral agreements, such as the investment protection agreement of 2002 and the double taxation agreement of 2008. The two countries also have bilateral agreements on shipping and air transport, among other things.

A bilateral cultural agreement was signed on 13 June 2022. When it enters into force, it will serve as the foundation for deepening cultural and academic cooperation between the two countries.

The Goethe-Institut in Algiers was established in 1963. It was temporarily closed in 1994 due to events in Algeria, but has been operational again since 2003. Its activities focus on language work and cooperation in the field of education. Five Algerian schools are part of the Schools: Partners for the Future initiative (PASCH), and teach German as a foreign language. The number of people learning German has doubled to a total of 49,000 in only a few years.

Since 2008, the German Archaeological Institute (DAI) and Algeria’s National Public Museum of Cherchell have cooperated on the restoration of archaeological artefacts, specialised training for staff, and the reorganisation of the museum.