Energy and industrial strategy: capacity expansions and new projects
In parallel, Algeria and Turkey agreed to expand bilateral trade during a meeting in Ankara. Trade volume reached $5.1 billion in 2023, up 22% year-on-year, with Algerian exports—primarily hydrocarbons and phosphates—accounting for 83% of the total. Turkish firms are involved in several Algerian infrastructure projects, including a $200 million logistics park near Algiers, now in final negotiations.
Diaspora business and talent: France, Canada, and beyond
Algeria and Russia discussed expanding cooperation in agriculture, energy, and industrial conversion, with a focus on joint ventures in food processing and desalination equipment. Concurrently, Algeria and China advanced a $120 million joint project to dredge Annaba Port and expand its phosphate handling capacity from 1.5 million to 3 million tonnes annually. The port is a critical node for phosphate exports to Europe and North Africa.
Algeria’s energy ministry announced three new onshore oil and gas discoveries in the southwest desert near Béchar, with combined estimated reserves of 150 million barrels of oil and 1.2 trillion cubic feet of gas. The finds were disclosed by Algeria’s national oil company Sonatrach and partner Canada’s ABS Corporation. The fields are expected to enter production within 24 months, adding 15,000 barrels per day to Algeria’s output.
OPEC dynamics and energy diplomacy
Meanwhile, Algeria’s LNG export capacity faces scrutiny after a tanker carrying 145,000 cubic meters of LNG to Italy was delayed for 11 days due to technical issues at the Skikda liquefaction plant. The incident highlights ongoing reliability concerns for Algerian LNG shipments, which averaged 12.3 million tonnes in 2023, down from 14.2 million in 2022. Algeria remains Europe’s second-largest gas supplier after Norway, with 18% of the EU’s LNG imports in Q1 2024.
Infrastructure and logistics: trams, ports, and transport plans
Sonatrach also leads a $2.3 billion desalination initiative to secure water supply by 2030. Three new plants are confirmed: a 100,000 m³/day facility in Oran (contract awarded to a consortium including Spain’s Abengoa), a 50,000 m³/day plant in Mostaganem (awarded to France’s Vinci), and a 75,000 m³/day plant in Béjaïa (awarded to China’s PowerChina). The projects aim to increase Algeria’s desalinated water capacity from 2.1 million m³/day to 2.8 million m³/day by 2027.
Education and youth policy: language shift and vocational gaps
However, logistical challenges persist: only 48% of primary schools have sufficient English teachers, and 62% lack basic audio-visual equipment. The reform follows a 2023 pilot in 30 secondary schools where English proficiency among students rose from 12% to 34% in one year. The government plans to train 5,000 English teachers by 2026 under a $90 million program funded by the World Bank.
Hospitality and tourism: legal crackdowns and investment push
The tourism sector remains a priority under the 2024–2029 plan, targeting 2.5 million international visitors by 2029, up from 1.8 million in 2023. QGIRCO, a Qatari investment group, confirmed it will open a $400 million resort in Tipasa by 2026, including a 300-room hotel, golf course, and marina. The project is part of Algeria’s effort to shift tourism from “Sleeping Beauty” status to an active sector contributing 5% to GDP.
Political and regional dynamics: mediation and stability
Key takeaway for entrepreneurs
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