ECONOMIC ACTIVITY: TRADE, INVESTMENT AND REGULATORY PRESSURES Trade with China: A $9B Boost The $9 billion in trade between Algeria and China in the first half of 2024 reflects Algeria’s reliance on Asian markets for hydrocarbons, machinery, and consumer goods. For Algerian exporters, this signals demand for Algerian gas, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural products in China. … Read more
Saudi Arabia’s leverage exposed Pakistan’s refusal to join Saudi Arabia’s Yemen war in 2015 now looks like a rare act of defiance. Recently, Islamabad signed a trilateral defense pact in Mecca with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The agreement blurs the line between alliance and outright military subcontracting, … Read more
A $10 Billion Boost for Algiers’ Economy The metro’s three lines (130 km total) will connect 24 stations, slashing commute times by up to 60% in a city where traffic jams cost businesses $1.2 billion annually in lost productivity, according to World Bank estimates. For Algerian startups, this means lower operational costs and better access … Read more
This Week’s Trends Meanwhile, startups and SMEs face mixed signals: Chevening Scholarships open for Algerian students, but corruption cases (like ALRIM’s 10-year prison bid) and SME financing gaps remain unresolved. The aviation sector—key for e-commerce and logistics—is poised for growth as Africa’s air traffic rises, while industrial vigilance increases due to extreme weather risks. Foreign … Read more
Saudi Arabia’s 40 airstrikes across four Yemeni provinces on Thursday escalate a conflict that quietly threatens Algeria’s energy security—and the fortunes of its entrepreneurs. The strikes, reported by the Houthi-run Saba news agency, targeted Al-Hudaydah, Al-Jawf, Marib, and Taiz, areas critical to global oil transit. For Algeria, where Sonatrach dominates the economy, the escalation raises … Read more
Algeria is spending $100 billion to overhaul its energy grid, and this week’s announcements from President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Sonatrach reveal a radical shift. The state oil giant is no longer just pumping hydrocarbons—it’s racing to build the North Africa’s largest solar and wind farms, while cutting red tape for private investors. For entrepreneurs, this … Read more
Entrepreneurs Face Cash Crunch as New Fiscal Year Begins Red thread: Limited funding forces entrepreneurs to seek alternative financing—whether through informal networks, diaspora remittances (estimated at $1.5 billion in 2023), or foreign partnerships. Germany’s Energy Gambit Opens Door for Algerian Exporters For entrepreneurs: – German firms are scouting for local suppliers in mechanical engineering and … Read more
Algeria’s economic ties with Europe just got a clearer path. Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar’s recent statement in Algiers—calling for a “new era of cooperation”—marks a strategic shift that could open doors for Algerian entrepreneurs, exporters, and the diaspora. The focus on “respect, stability, and joint action” isn’t just diplomatic rhetoric. For businesses, it translates … Read more
Algeria’s wildfire recovery stalls as entrepreneurs in Skikda, Bejaia and Tizi Ouzou face unpaid debts and lost livelihoods The Ministry of the Interior’s recent push to compensate wildfire victims in eastern Algeria has done little to ease the economic pain for small businesses and farmers still struggling nearly a year after last August’s devastating blazes. … Read more
Cement Exports and Trade Surges: Algeria’s Hidden Export Power Trade volumes with China hit $9 billion in six months, according to Algerian customs data. This surge—$1.5 billion monthly—reflects Algeria’s reliance on Asian markets as European and African trade slows. For entrepreneurs, this means supply chain risks (delays, tariffs) but also new demand channels for local … Read more