One of the most important budgetary reforms to be introduced in Algeria in recent years was the promulgation of the Organic Finance Law on Finance Laws in August 2018. Annual finance laws from 2021 will be prepared under procedures and parameters set out in the new Organic Law. Requiring several years before it is fully implemented, the legislation represents the first such fundamental change to the…
The fall in oil prices from mid-2014 onwards not only heralded an economic slowdown and a sharp rise in Algeria’s twin deficits, it also called into question the longer-term sustainability of the country’s hydrocarbons-dependent development model. In July 2016 the authorities unveiled their new growth plan, a strategic vision to transform the economy by 2030. The overarching objective is to promote…
Faced with slowing economic growth and an increasingly constrained banking sector, Algeria decided to change its macroeconomic strategy in October 2017. As part of the new plan, monetary and fiscal policies would be eased simultaneously, an approach which has come to be known in Algeria as “quantitative easing”. Instead of continuing to narrow the budget deficit every year until coming to balance…
In the early 2000s frequent water shortages fuelled social unrest and curbed production capacity across the economy. To address these chronic challenges, the government launched an extensive programme to diversify the water resource base, and improve storage and distribution in the medium to long term. The successes of the sector’s development have been central to broader attempts to diversify the…
There are a large number of capacity-building projects under way in Algerian steel, which has become a thriving subsegment within the country’s industrial landscape. Forecasts indicate output will increase by 7m tonnes to 12m tonnes per annum (tpa) by the end of 2020. A milestone was reached in 2017 with the start of operations at the Algerian-Qatari Bellara steel complex in the wilaya (province)…
In addition to its hydrocarbons wealth, Algeria is rich in a variety of minerals, such as phosphate, gold, iron, zinc, lead and others. These ores are still largely untapped but the diversification drive deployed by the government to reduce the country’s reliance on oil and gas and direct it towards more sustainable growth could lead to greater development of this heretofore marginal industry. Structure…
Pharmaceuticals is one of Algeria’s most dynamic manufacturing industries. The state-owned SAIDAL group is the main producer, and there were approximately 80 other local and foreign manufacturers operating in the segment in 2018. Following the 2009 imposition of restrictions on the import of goods that can be produced locally, national output has grown rapidly, leading to rising levels of self-sufficiency.…
Agriculture in Algeria is primarily rain-fed and often suffers from droughts, which have worsened in recent years due to climate change. The government, therefore, has plans to expand irrigation networks to cover 2m ha, or 25% of arable land, by 2021 – 700,000 ha more than the 1.3m ha irrigated in 2018. This need was recognised some years ago, with the 2015-19 development plan allocating $18bn to…
Since achieving independence in 1962, Algeria has pursued an activist foreign policy, pushing interests of developing countries through the Non-Aligned Movement, as well as in groups like the G-77. Current president of the republic, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, served as the 29th president of the UN General Assembly in 1974 during his lengthy term performing as the country’s minister of foreign affairs. During…
Despite being a major oil producer, Algeria is a net fuel importer and is thus in the paradoxical position of being rich in hydrocarbons but lacking in refined products. It is currently in the process of developing its refining operations in order to satisfy domestic fuel demand, which has grown steadily since the 2000s. Reducing Fuel Imports The development of refining activities is now more urgent…
