In a decisive move to expand Algeria’s presence in the global stone industry, the National Company for Marble (Sonarem), led by CEO Belkacem Soltani, convened a high-level meeting dedicated to advancing marble and calcium carbonate exports in partnership with Egypt. The talks, attended by Mohamed Ali El-Azzaly of the Arab Republic of Egypt, follow commitments made during the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025).
The session brought together senior executives, including Hamid Zeitoun, CEO of ENG, and Mohamed Besskari, CEO of ENAMARBRE, alongside Sonarem’s leadership team. At the heart of the discussions was the implementation of a memorandum of understanding targeting the export of 600,000 cubic meters of marble in the short and medium term, as well as significant volumes of calcium carbonate. The agreement underscores a growing Algerian-Egyptian partnership in mining and mineral valorization.
In his address, Soltani emphasized the strategic role of the marble sector within Sonarem’s development roadmap. He highlighted Algeria’s unmatched reserves and the high quality of its marble deposits, renowned for their distinctive crystalline red, black, and white varieties. Ongoing restructuring and modernization of production units, he noted, aim to position Algerian marble as a premium and competitive resource in international markets.
El-Azzaly expressed strong enthusiasm for Algeria’s marble, pointing to its well-established demand in Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Indonesia, Malaysia, and beyond. He proposed the creation of an exclusive marketing agency to drive exports, supported by competitive pricing strategies and efficient logistics solutions. Such a move, he argued, could open untapped markets and significantly broaden Algeria’s global reach.
Both sides agreed to organize site visits to Algeria’s national quarries to assess production capacity and identify opportunities for joint investment—an important step toward turning strategic intent into concrete outcomes.
Source: www.dzair-tube.dz
