Introduced to the market in 2016, 4G services have enjoyed significant expansion in Algeria, growing by 573% in 2017. As market competition drove down prices, 4G has been adopted by 9.87m subscribers as of end-2017, up from 1.46m subscribers a year earlier, according to the Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, which became the Regulatory Authority of Posts and Electronic Communications…
As ambitions to transition to some extent from an oil-driven economy to a tech-driven one, there is an effort to grow a culture of innovation. In January 2017 the Parliament adopted the orientation law for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), aimed at supporting the financing of start-ups and the development of an entrepreneurial culture. In addition to public initiatives,…
The goal of smart city design is to improve the standards of living for citizens by optimising resources through digital solutions. In addition to advancing the wilaya (province) of Algiers, the Algiers Smart City envisions setting a new baseline for technology development in other cities in Algeria and further abroad. Although the strategies used by each smart city vary, as they draw on a…
Algeria is at the crossroads of its very own technological revolution. While there are several challenges to address – including the development of supporting infrastructure – there is clear momentum to create a much-needed innovation ecosystem. In particular, the country has a unique opportunity to shape a new model for smart cities that is adaptable to emerging markets. The opportunity…
The Algiers Smart City project was launched in mid-2017 and has spearheaded a number of innovative projects, including a local start-up’s development of cloud and big data platform that secured global customers within its first year. Several other projects involving over 50 local engineers from are also in motion. Meanwhile, partnerships with four multinational firms were announced and executed…
With new hotel and tourism developments in the pipeline, Algeria is looking to boost job growth in the industry while developing the skills needed in the labour force. In addition, the 2021 Mediterranean Games are set to give training programmes a timely boost as host city Oran prepares to take centre stage. Indeed, the July 2018 opening of a branch of the Algiers Higher School of Hotel and…
Advances in financial technology (fintech) have been slow to arrive to Algeria. A low bank penetration rate remains a significant challenge, notwithstanding substantial progress in recent years (see analysis), as do a cultural preference for cash and the dominance of state-run banks that have little incentive to innovate. Framework In June 2017 the government announced that Algérie Poste would roll…
In 2018 Algeria and China celebrated their 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, a particularly notable achievement considering China has recently become the number-one source of Algerian imports. “The two countries are pioneers that have made history in many areas in the expansion of China-Arab ties,” China’s minister of foreign affairs, Wang Yi, said in a statement at the China-Arab States…
In developing and emerging market economies, the share of the population with access to basic financial services tends to lag significantly behind that of advanced economies. This can be chalked up to the relatively smaller size and sophistication of the banking sector, lower incomes, a higher degree of informal employment and patchy identification records prevalent in less developed countries. As…
Investment funds are smart financing tools that encourage private investment by providing shortand medium-term capital resources to companies. Private equity financing supports companies looking to finance their foundation, growth and in some cases recovery and maintenance. Furthermore, in an economic context in which financing needs are steadily increasing, they represent a real operational solution…
