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Algeria has made significant strides to improve access to quality medical care and tackle communicable diseases. While basic health indicators are very good, the changing socioeconomic landscape and improved living standards have coincided with a rise in chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer. Years of accumulated oil revenues have enabled the government to fund the health care system generously and invest heavily in clinics, hospitals and preventative measures. Yet despite the progress made, there is still room for improvement given the country’s changing health issues and health care needs. This chapter contains interviews with John Chrosniak, President, DuPont; and Dow R Wilson, CEO, Varian Medical Systems.

As Algeria seeks to rapidly diversify its economy, the government has singled out tourism as one of five priority sectors for investment. But building a reputation as an international destination in a competitive global market, while overcoming regional security concerns, a chequered global economic landscape and a long-neglected national tourist infrastructure, will prove challenging. While the drive to spark a building frenzy appears to have finally materialised after years of limited action, auxiliary services and personnel training may still lag behind, impeding progress. Nonetheless, both local and foreign investors have shown an interest in new ventures, and many are determined to do what is necessary to continue developing Algeria’s vast tourism potential. This chapter contains an interview with Simon Stamper, Director of Operations, Africa, IHG.

Algeria has been taking active steps to lower its food import bill and improve local agriculture production. That being said, the government continues to face challenges in areas such as land appropriation and financing. Given its sizeable agricultural land potential and current development programmes, Algeria is ideally poised to be an exporting country for agricultural produce. Developing a smart export policy and system based on intensive agriculture will be crucial going forward. This chapter contains interviews with Abdesselam Chelghoum, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries; and David Blumberg, CEO, Blumberg Grain Middle East & Africa.

With the nation’s largest industrial park set to be built in Ouled Saber, Sétif is set to benefit from an increasing flow of private and public investment into sectors such as electronics, automotive and agri-industry. The new enterprises emerging in the Sétif region will provide employment opportunities for thousands of people, while also advancing the province’s importance as a key contributor to Algeria’s economy.

Internet infrastructure and usage have developed rapidly in Algeria in recent years, helping to pave the way for the growth of IT segments. The sector, however, is about to enter a challenging period as a result of reductions to government spending. Despite the impact this is likely to have, ICT is likely to remain a strategic priority in years to come, as the government seeks to capitalise on the sector’s high potential in line with its efforts to diversify the country’s economic base. This chapter contains interviews with Mouatassem Boudiaf, Deputy Minister for Digital Economy and Financial System Modernisation; and Nunzio Mirtillo, Head of the Mediterranean Region, Ericsson.

Transport infrastructure in Algeria, which is the largest country in Africa, has been going through a process of transformation since the early 2000s, with tens of billions of euros channelled into infrastructure projects. In recent years, despite the pressures exerted on government spending as a consequence of declining hydrocarbons revenues, transport networks have remained an investment priority, as Algeria targets boosting domestic production and developing its non-oil economy. Numerous projects already under way are set to bring about major improvements in both domestic and international transport and logistics infrastructure, helping to boost the development of the wider economy, while potential new financing models may provide opportunities to further develop the sector in the coming years. This chapter contains interviews with Michael Hamelink, CEO, Aigle Azur; and Rachid Ghezlaoui, CEO, Transrafa.