Transcript Les meilleures anecdotes politiques

Embassy of Algeria
in Canada
General Presentation on Algeria
and
Economic Perspectives
By
Ambassador Smail Benamara
Prince Edward Island
Charlottetown
May 27th, 2009.
1
1- Geography:
• Location: Algeria is located in northwestern Africa, in the
heart of the Arab World, the African Continent and the
Mediterranean region.
• Size: Algeria has an area of almost 2.4 million square
kilometers (1.24274 mi). It is the second largest in Africa.
• Population: 34.4 million (January 2008 est.)
• Languages: Arabic (official), Berber (national)
• Land Boundaries: Algeria has huge territory with a desert
zone and a population living in the country`s Northern part
as opposed to Canada where the population lives in the
country`s Southern part but the icy desert in the North.
2
• Time Zone: Algeria’s time zone is Central European Time
(Greenwich Mean Time plus 1 hour).
MAP OF ALGERIA
3
2- History:
Algeria has a history of more than 2000 years full of good
periods but also periods where the territory was conquered
contributing at the same time in fostering the people`s
determination for freedom and in taking advantage of various
cultural and civilization contributions.
Therefore, there is the Berber period with Jughurta. Until the
reign of Jugurtha's grandfather Masinissa, the people of
Numidia were semi-nomadic and indistinguishable. Masinissa
established a kingdom (roughly equivalent to modern
northern Algeria) and became a Roman ally in 206 BC.
The expansion of Islam occurred afterwards in North Africa
contributing through the population going to build the the
Islamic civilization in Andalucia (currently Spain).
4
• In the contemporary history, the French colonization lasted
for 130 years and had led to Algeria`s independence
following a war from 1954 to 1962.
• Independence Day : 5 July 1962
• Algeria`s National Day: 1 November 1954 (Revolution
day)
5
Algerian Liberation War
6
• Executive branch
Head of state: President Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA
The head of state is the President of Algeria, who is elected to
a five-year term. President Bouteflika was elected last April
for a five-year term.
The Algerian parliament is bicameral, consisting of a lower
chamber, the National People's Assembly (APN), with 380
members; and an upper chamber, the Council Of Nation, with
144 members. The APN is elected every five years.
A multiparty system with number
represented in the Parliament.
of
political
parties
In the 90`s, Algeria has witnessed a period of terrorism that is
now over.
7
President's Office (Presidency)
People’s National Assembly
8
Photo Gallery
of
Algeria’s beautiful landscape
9
Tassili region in Southern Algeria
10
10
Mountains in Tizi-Ouzou region
11
Coastal side of Bejaia region
12
Chréa mountains
13
Small villages in Tizi-Ouzou mountains
14
Hoggar region in Southen Algeria
15
Hoggar region in Southen Algeria
16
Hoggar region in Southen Algeria
17
Hoggar region in Southen Algeria
18
Roman Ruins in Algeria
19
19
City of Algiers
20
City of Oran
21
City of Annaba
22
City of Constantine
23
Basilica of St Augustin - Annaba
24
The Santa Cruz fort in Oran.
25
Notre Dame d'Afrique, Basilica of Algiers
26
The Big Mosque of Algiers
27
Constantine outfit
28
Tlemcen outfit
29
Algiers outfit
30
Kabyle outfit
31
Algerian Handicrafts
32
by Omar Racim
by Farid Benyaya
by Baya
by M'hamed Issiakhem
33
Economic Perspectives
The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy,
accounting for roughly 60% of budget revenues, 30% of GDP,
and over 95% of export earnings. Algeria has the eighthlargest reserves of natural gas in the world and is the fourthlargest gas exporter; it ranks 15th in oil reserves. Sustained
high oil prices in recent years have helped improve Algeria's
financial and macroeconomic indicators.
• Key Economic indicators
Here are some key economic indicators that are signs of a
healthy economy and also of a serious growth and
development policy:
• GDP (official rate): $171.3 billion (2008 est.)
• Unemployment rate: 12.9% (2008 est.)
• Inflation rate : 3.6% (2008 est.)
34
• Debt-external: $2.913 billion (31 December 2008 est.) The
external debt is derisory because Algeria has decided in
2007 to reimburse by anticipation its external debt.
• Financial Reserves of the Central Bank of Algeria: $150.5
billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Ministry of Finance
35
ALGERIA’S VARIOUS PROGRAMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
1- The important five-year program: 2005 – 2009
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has decided to promote a
Complementary Growth Support Plan, which sets aside 150
billion US Dollars for development spending between 2005
and 2009. This plan aimed at improving living conditions,
upgrading the country’s infrastructures, improving the
business environment and rebalancing regional development.
The major projects to be carried out during this four years
are the huge projects of the construction of 1 million housing
unit, a 1200-km highway line from the Moroccan to the
Tunisian border, the capital city under-ground metro, fifteen
(15) hospitals, universities, dams etc…
36
2- The Five-year plan (2009-2013):
A new infrastructure and public works five year plan (20092013) is expected to be around US$150 billion, and will
mainly be spent on infrastructure projects (roads, ports, public
utilities), as well as the construction, transportation and water
works sectors.
• Algeria – Canada Economic Relations
With 8.6 billion Canadian dollars trade exchange mainly
due to the high oil prices (was 5.5 billion in 2007), Algeria
is Canada’s first trade partner in Africa and the Arab world.
Economic relations between Algeria and Canada have
always been characterized by a common will from both
sides to strengthen their efforts in order to reinforce
cooperation and to stimulate commercial exchanges,
which are already dense and in a constant progress,
37
and to promote direct investment in the framework of a
mutually advantageous partnership.
The economic cooperation reflects the presence in Algeria of
70 Canadian firms most of which have international
dimensions, such as SNC-Lavalin, Dessau, Bombardier,
Tecsult, First Calgary Petroleum and Talisman Energy.
Some of these companies operate in Algeria for over 40 years.
In 2008, Algeria imported from Canada worth of 580 million
Canadian dollars of the durum wheat.
The commercial exchanges between Algeria and Canada are
in a constant increase, mainly hydrocarbon exports and import
by Algeria of equipment goods and agri-food products.
38
The significant evolution occurred those last years in the
bilateral economic relations, reflects the Canadian companies’
interest in Algeria’s market and particularly in the sectors of
hydrocarbons, engineering, construction, hydraulic and
services.
Algeria is also one of the main partners of the Canadian
Wheat Board (CWB). Actually, it is among the top five
world importers of Canadian durum wheat, lentils,
chickpeas, and other pulses.
In the field of engineering and construction, among the most
important projects achieved by Canada in the engineering field
just for giving one exemple: two contracts have been awarded
to SNC Lavalin company totaling an amount of 1.3 billion CAD
for providing services of engineering,
39
supply and construction of two power plants, one which is
already operational with a capacity of 825 Megawatt totaling
an amount of 560 million CAD, and the other one with the
capacity of 1227 Megawatt is underway.
Also the engineering and construction company Dessau
Soprin, present in Algeria since 2002, where it achieves
various important economic projects, has signed two
contracts for the achievement of studies, follow-up and
supervision of two portions of the large-scale East-West
Highway project (1200 Km), listed in the five-year economic
revival program and another huge project the Great Mosque
of Algiers.
40
We have noticed, however, that our main economic relations
are with the province of Quebec. Unfortunately little business
is being done with Prince Edward Island despite the number
of companies based in this province specialized in
agriculture, tourism and fishing …etc. Those companies can
be awarded contracts in Algeria.
Prince Edward Island enjoys the reputation as Canada's
leading potato producing province. Producers are
continually making improvements and striving to maintain
and enhance the province's potato status by anticipating
and meeting changing demands in world potato markets.
Algeria wants to take advantage of this experience.
41
• Free movement
In June 15th, 2007, the airline Air Algérie began twice to
four weekly flights between Montreal and Algiers,
facilitating the travel movements of Algerian and Canadian
business community.
Air Algerie Crew during the first landing
at Montreal’s Trudeau Airport.
42
• Easy to get a business visa
The business visa is easy to get from the Embassy’s
Consular Section located in Ottawa or our General
Consulate in Montreal.
The business community can be issued business visa by
mail in 48hours.
General Consulate in Montreal
Consular Section in Ottawa
43
FRAMEWORKS OF ASSISTANCE FOR CANADIAN FIRMS
TO DO THEIR BUSINESS IN ALGERIA:
The Economic Section of the Embassy of Algeria which provide
the most updated input, documents, statistics and other data on
the Algerian economic economy and market. The Economic
Section will be pleased to answer any question or concern that
you might have by email at: [email protected]
Also, the Embassy of Algeria’s website (www.amlbalgott.com)
is an excellent source of economic information in both English
and French languages.
I would like also to underline the important role played by the
Canadian Embassy in Algiers in favor of the Canadian business
community: (www.canadainternational.gc.ca/algeria).
44
Last but not least, we have a bilateral framework that gathers
Canadian businessmen who operate in Algeria. I’m talking
about the Canada-Algeria Business Alliance (CABC) that has
been revived last year to promote business between Algeria and
Canada.
CABA meeting on July 16 th, 2008, in Montreal
45
In December 18th, 2008, the CABC organized an Economic
Day on business opportunities offered by the Algerian market
and is planning to organize a Canadian economic mission to
Algeria next fall.
I would like to seize this opportunity to invite Canadian
companies in general and those of Prince Edward Island in
particular, to join the CABC at (www.alliance-affaires.ca) to
take advantage of the various economic opportunities provided
by the Algerian market.
I wish that PEI companies would show interest to the huge
potential of the Algerian market and would make the necessary
steps to discover this market oriented towards the future.
46
Photo Gallery of
Economic & cultural projects
achieved and supervised by Canadian
companies
47
Sanctuary of the Martyr (by SNC-Lavalin)
48
Thermal Power Plant IN Skikda
(by SNC-Lavalin)
49
East-West Highway (by Dessau-Soprin)
50
The Big Mosque of Algiers Dessau-Soprin
51
Photo Gallery of
Important projects in Algeria
52
Algiers Tramway Cable Car
53
Algiers Metro Subway
54
Water Desalination Plant
55
New Algiers International Airport
56
Thank you for your kind attention and
welcome in Algeria:
the land of hospitality.
57