Brussels, 07/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - The EU and Algeria, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Algiers on Wednesday 2 May to assist and upgrade small businesses (SMEs) operating in the pharmaceutical sector. The agreement was signed between the National Agency for SME Development (ANDPME), the National Union of Pharmacy Operators (UNOP) and the European Union support programme of small and medium businesses (SME II). SME II, which has a budget of €44 million, will assume part of the cost of initiatives taken. Training days will be organised to raise awareness among companies of the action being taken. The agreement will help to strengthen support actions, already carried out through SME II-UNOP partnership since 2009, and to carry on the actions through the national upgrading programme, said programme leader Abdeldjalil Kassoussi.
A member of the EU delegation in Algiers, Martins Paulo, who is in charge of cooperation, announced that a further two-year support programme, called P3A (support programme for the application of the association agreement), for Algerian small businesses had recently been launched in association with the Algerian Trade Ministry. This programme, with its budget of €29 million, which could possibly be increased, seeks to assist public bodies in the various areas to develop their activities through twinnings between Algerian national institutions and their European counterparts. (FB/transl.rt)