Transport

New capital projects, from upgraded port facilities to multi-lane motorways and underground metros, have been a hallmark of Algeria’s transport sector in recent years. While bottlenecks persist – including an over-reliance on road transport and limited rail connectivity – generous public spending on transport infrastructure, largely funded by oil and gas revenues, has ensured continuous development in the sector since the early 2000s. Private investment has taken a leading role in the transport and communications sectors, accounting for 83.5% of total spending in 2014 and contributing €14.2bn to GDP, up from €8.6bn in 2010 and €7.6bn in 2008. While the sharp decline in hydrocarbons revenues since 2014 is leading the government to re-evaluate spending priorities, it appears to remain committed to maintaining capital investment in transport. The government’s latest five-year plan, which accounts for the 2015-19 period, allocates AD832.7bn (€7.7bn) to the transport sector, ensuring significant continued development of transportation networks in the coming years. This chapter contains interviews with Boudjema Talai, Minister of Transport; and Yacine Bendjaballah, CEO, National Company for Rail Transport.