Non-hydrocarbon exports could reach USD5 billion by late 2021
ALGIERS- Algeria’s non-hydrocarbon exports could reach USD5 billion by the end of 2021, the Secretary General of Trade Ministry Redouane Allili said Tuesday in Algiers.
Algerian non-hydrocarbon exports could reach $ 5 billion (USD) by the end of 2021, said Redouane Allili, Secretary General of the Ministry of Commerce, on the sidelines of the opening ceremony, on Tuesday, of the 1st Inter African Import-Export Fair (IMPEX 2021).
Mr. Allili specified that “Algerian non-hydrocarbon exports could reach 5 billion USD by the end of 2021, despite the effects of the pandemic on economic activity”.
“Despite the consequences of the Covid-19 health crisis, we were able to increase the number of export actions outside the hydrocarbon sector, which will allow us to achieve an amount between 4.5 to 5 billion USD by the end of the year, ”he added.
To this end, he stressed that the African Continental Free Trade Area (ZLECAF) constitutes a “real opportunity” for the country, which could allow it to multiply its exports by five to African countries over the next two years.
Mr. Allili called on Algerian companies to seize this opportunity of the ZLECAF, by taking the initiative to promote the various products intended for export.
In this sense, he specified that the Ministry of Commerce is currently working to revitalize Business Councils with all African countries and to determine any opportunities that can help the development of inter-African trade.
“Algerian and African businessmen can also determine these opportunities because of their perpetual presence on the ground, particularly through trade,” he highlighted.
Mr. Allili assured, in this wake, that “the business meetings and exchanges between the heads of Algerian and African companies have already started and aim to determine the opportunities in order to forge win-win partnerships”.
Inviting African companies to invest in Algeria, the SG of the Ministry of Commerce assured that these operators will benefit from all the necessary facilitations in addition to the advantages granted under the ZLECAF.
Regarding the development objectives of inter-African trade set at 3 trillion dollars in the long term by the African Union (AU), the head of the Ministry of Commerce estimated that “Algeria is in a position to take a part of these exchanges ”, on condition that“ Algerian companies seize this opportunity offered by the African free trade zone ”.
Also referring to the Great Arab Free Trade Area (GZALE), he said that it will also be consolidated, while recalling that nine (9) Arab countries, including Tunisia, are members of the ZLECAF.
