Country Profile
From The Report: Algeria 2017
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Algeria is a major producer of hydrocarbons, which are crucial contributors to the economy. It has the third-largest proven oil reserves on the continent, though it is facing substantial fiscal challenges due to the sharp fall in the international price of oil in 2014 and 2015. In contrast to many other countries in the region, Algeria has maintained its political stability, while its international profile is in the midst of gradual shift as it seeks to reduce industrial imports from traditional trading partners.

This chapter contains interviews with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika; Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister of Russia; Angelino Alfano, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy; and Lord Richard Risby of Haverhill, Special Envoy of the UK Prime Minister in Algeria.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Budding oasis: The Saharan country is adapting to changing market conditions
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With an area of 2.38m sq km, Algeria became the largest country in Africa when the Republic of South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011. Located in the Maghreb region of North Africa, it has a Mediterranean coastline of just under 1000 km and land borders with seven countries and territories – Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Tunisia and the Western Sahara – at a combined length of 6734 km. The country is home to numerous mountain ranges, including the Tellian and…

Interview

Making progress: President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, on promoting economic growth and encouraging investment
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Interview:Abdelaziz Bouteflika What are the next steps for ensuring the structural emergence of Algeria in the medium term? ABDELAZIZ BOUTEFLIKA: The country’s economic pick-up would have been unthinkable without the implementation of a network of basic infrastructure, which has experienced delays due to the nation’s tragedy of the 1990s. Equally, economic development cannot be conceived without the adequate management of the citizens’ needs, in terms of employment, housing, health,…

Interview

New areas of cooperation: Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister of Russia, on strengthening economic ties between Russia and Algeria
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Interview:Dmitry Medvedev How does Russia intend to further develop its economic relations with Algeria? DMITRY MEDVEDEV: Algeria has been one of Russia’s primary trade and economic partners in Africa and the Arab world for years. Russian-Algerian trade doubled last year, reaching almost $4bn. While it is an impressive figure, I am confident that we can increase this considerably in the next few years by boosting cooperation in new areas. Large Russian firms, such as Power Machines and…

Overview

Renewing confidence: Proposed constitutional amendments aim to restore faith in democratic institutions
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Under the constitution Algeria is a presidential republic. The head of state is the president, who is elected for five-year terms. A rule limiting presidents to two consecutive terms in power was abolished by constitutional amendments passed in 2008, but reintroduced in 2016. However the detail of the reinstatement effectively allows the current president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, to run for a fifth term if he wishes. The president appoints the prime minister and Cabinet as well as one-third…

Interview

Exchange economy: Angelino Alfano, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, on the scope of relations between Algeria and Italy
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Interview:Angelino Alfano What are some of the historical and cultural links between Italy and Algeria? ANGELINO ALFANO: The relationship is deeply rooted in our common history in the Mediterranean. Over time, we have established strong cultural, scientific and economic ties, which have led to a consolidated and long-lasting friendship. Today, Algeria represents a strategic partner for Italy in many fields, especially in relation to some of our shared challenges. In 1999 President Bouteflika…

Interview

A time of change: Lord Richard Risby of Haverhill, Special Envoy of the UK Prime Minister in Algeria, on economic cooperation between the two countries
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Interview:Lord Richard Risby of Haverhill In which fields is the partnership between the UK and Algeria most efficient? LORD RICHARD RISBY OF HAVERHILL: We have forged many partnerships – BP, AstraZeneca and Unilever – and have encouraged more UK companies to enter this market than ever before. There are already a number of UK companies doing business in Algeria, including British Airways, BAT, GlaxoSmithKline, Grant Thornton, HSBC, KPMG, Llewellyn Davies, Petrofac, Rolls-Royce or Shell.…

Analysis

Favourable ties: New agreements strengthen relations with regional neighbours and countries further abroad
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Algeria has long had complicated foreign relations, having tense ties with neighbouring Morocco, which has held back regional integration, while at the same time having strong trade relations with the EU, with which it signed a free trade accord in 2002. However, its international profile is in the midst of a gradual shift, as it seeks to reduce industrial imports from traditional trading partners, such as the EU, and develop stronger trade, investment and strategic alliances with sub-Saharan…