World Bank supports Algeria's goals of transforming economy and using youth population

World Bank Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa, Ferid Belhaj is in Algeria from September 5 to 6, 2018 to reaffirm the Bank's support for the national goals of transforming the economy and unlocking the potential of the country's large youth population. This is Mr. Belhaj's first visit to Algeria since his appointment as World Bank Vice President on July 1, 2018.

The two-day visit will include meetings with Algerian Prime Minister, Ahmed Ouyahia, Minister of Finance, Abderrahmane Raouya, Minister of Industry and Mining, Yousef Yousfi, Minister of Transport and Public Works, Abdelghani Zaalane, Minister of Interior and Local Government, Noureddine Bedoui, Governor of Algerian Central Bank, Mohamed Loukal, as well as representatives from the private sector and young entrepreneurs. Mr. Belhaj, accompanied by the Country Director for the Maghreb and Malta, Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly, Resident Representative, Demba Ba and a delegation of World Bank experts, will hold discussions on the program of cooperation between his institution and the Government of Algeria.

Discussions will focus on areas where the Bank has been providing Advisory services as well as on the need to invest in human capital, infrastructure, and new technologies, as a path toward transformation to a digital economy to stimulate inclusive growth and create jobs.

The World Bank Group's portfolio in Algeria is composed of 9 technical assistance projects in the sectors of agriculture, finance, investment climate, social protection, exports, and integrated desert management. The programs seek to boost growth through economic diversification, promote sustainable development, improve the efficiency of social programs and strengthen economic planning and management as well as evaluation of institutions.