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The Algerian media sector continues to remain relatively underdeveloped; however, a number of recent changes suggest the sector may be going through a transition period. Print media continues to hold a dominant role, with a total of 105 daily newspapers published across the country, and many publications shifting from French to Arabic. Although government advertising continues to be the main source of revenue for most publications, some of the largest newspapers are beginning to find success attracting advertising from private companies. In addition to changes in the print segment, private television channels are emerging as serious contenders to the state-run offerings. Additionally, as the country’s internet penetration increases, online news platforms promise to become increasingly popular.

Access to health care is expected to improve as the government embarks on an ambitious programme of investment in health facilities. Between 2010 and 2014, the authorities plan to invest AD619bn (€5.69bn) to enhance the sector, with plans to renovate 320 health facilities and build 172 hospitals, 45 specialised centres, 377 polyclinics and 17 paramedical schools. In 2010 the government launched a five-year plan that would see AD852bn (€7.84bn) invested in the education sector. Reforms to expand the number of vocational training courses on offer to students at the secondary level are helping to alleviate the high youth unemployment rate. This chapter contains interviews with Tarek Rabah, Middle East and Africa Vice-President, AstraZeneca; and Abdelatif Baba Ahmed, Minister of Education.

Although the tourism sector currently makes up 2% of GDP and attracted nearly 982,000 tourists in 2012, the government hopes to raise the sector’s GDP contribution to 5% by 2015 and boost visitor numbers to 2.5m. The 2009 Complementary Finance Law introduced a number of fiscal incentives aimed at increasing sector activity, such as cheaper access to government land and better interest rates on loans used for tourism developments. Proposed hotel and infrastructure projects will potentially raise the number of hotel beds to 75,000 by 2015 and create 30,000 new jobs. In parallel with efforts to expand tourism facilities, a number of initiatives are also aimed at ensuring that the country has sufficiently skilled human resources capacity. This chapter contains an interview with Pierre-Frédéric Roulot, President and CEO, Louvre Hotels Group.

Although Algeria has historically relied heavily on food imports to meet domestic demand, the agriculture sector has seen considerable growth since the 2008 introduction of the Agricultural and Rural Renewal Policy. Under the policy, production has grown by an average of 13.8% per year, with total output reaching $29.3bn in 2012. Despite this growth, however, food imports still accounted for 19% of all imports in 2012, worth a total value of $8.98bn (although this was an 8.8% decline from the previous year). With the goal of producing 70% of the country’s food by 2014, the government has implemented a number of incentives to boost investment in the sector, modernise practices and boost agribusiness output.

Major investments in a number of areas, such as transport, home construction and utilities provision are driving sector activity. The government is also planning a number of sector-specific initiatives, such as a plan to build 750 new hotels and create an additional 42 industrial zones throughout the country. Large-scale projects are attracting interest from both local and foreign firms. The real estate market is expecting major growth due to an existing housing shortage, the rising population and improving economic conditions. This chapter contains interviews with Farouk Chiali, Minister of Public Works; and Mark Dixon, Group CEO and Founder, Regus.

Improving economic conditions are leading to strong domestic demand for products, which is in turn spurring growth in Algeria’s manufacturing and retail sectors. However, industry’s contribution to GDP decreased from 18% in the 1980s to around 5% in 2013 due to the growing role of hydrocarbons production and under-investment in the country’s manufacturing facilities. Recent government efforts, such as a number of tax incentives aimed at foreign investors, hope to reverse this trend. To help ensure that manufacturers have sufficient access to suitable industrial real estate, the government is also establishing an additional 42 industrial zones, distributed throughout the country. This chapter contains interviews with Abderrahmane Benhamadi, Chairman, Condor; and Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Former French Prime Minister and Special French Envoy for Franco-Algerian Affairs.