Kourtel Presents 16 Industrial Land Operations for 2027 Law
Algeria's Minister of Industry, Farid Kourtel, recently presented plans for 16 new industrial land development and rehabilitation operations slated for inclusion in the 2027 finance law. This initiative, spanning across 14 new wilayas, with a focus on the southern region, marks a concrete step towards enhancing the nation's industrial infrastructure. The proposals follow a comprehensive national census of industrial zones, mandated by presidential instructions to be completed by the end of September.
The census revealed a detailed situation report on 729 industrial zones nationwide, encompassing 50 new industrial zones, 66 older ones, and 610 activity zones. This thorough assessment, carried out by the Ministry of Industry in coordination with local authorities, indicates that 103 of these zones are already fully developed. Additionally, 107 zones are currently under study, with others showing various stages of advancement, including 38 zones at 50% completion and 41 zones between 50% and 80% completion.
Beyond the new operations, the sector has also requested credit for 62 ongoing projects to ensure their completion, aiming to significantly increase the availability of economic land for investors. Minister Kourtel emphasized the state's determination to ensure industrial land is both available and accessible, recognizing its crucial role in economic development, job creation, and value addition. Mechanisms are in place to optimize land use, including legal provisions that allow for the recovery of allocated land if developers fail to meet contractual obligations. The Algerian Investment Promotion Agency (AAPI) is empowered to unilaterally terminate contracts and recover land through administrative action.
Further supporting this strategy, the National Industrial Land Agency (ANFI), established in 2023, actively manages a portfolio of 142 industrial and activity zones, totaling 13,720 hectares, along with six new zones covering 870 hectares. ANFI has successfully completed the development of three new industrial zones: Ouled Ben Damou in Tlemcen (103 hectares), Sidi Bel Abbès/extension (54 hectares), and El Ksar in Bejaïa (176 hectares). Progress on other significant projects includes Larbatache in Boumerdès, which is 99.5% complete (137 hectares), and Oued Nechou in Ghardaïa, with a completion rate of 78.5% (200 hectares), underscoring Algeria's ongoing commitment to robust industrial growth.
