Algerian Ambassador meets AP CM

Hyderabad , Mar 22 (UNI) Algeria Ambassador to India Noureddine Bardad, accompanied by the first Secretary Embassy of Algeria, Mohamed Yazid Bouzid today called on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy at Secretariat here.

According to an official statement, Dr Bardad said India is a very popular country in Algeria and more so Andhra Pradesh and Hyderabad.

He described Dr Reddy's marathon walk (padayatra) of 1,600 kms as just 'amazing' and said his coming to power was the result of that.

He lauded the Chief Minister for the massive irrigation schemes taken up in the state and said water scarcity was a big problem in Algeria too.

The Ambassador said Algeria would like to work closer with Andhra Pradesh in the areas of Biotechnology, IT and Communications and Pharmaceuticals.

Medicines and food articles from Andhra Pradesh which were comparatively cheaper could find a huge market in Algeria, he added.

Dr Bardad invited Dr Reddy to visit Algeria at the earliest.

UNI