Algeria at 70:

Challenges of Economic Reform and Development

5th RIEME International Workshop (https://rieme.org/) Sciences Po Lille

7-8 November 2024

Overview

Seventy years after the November 1954 uprising that led to Algeria’s independence, Algeria stands at a crucial juncture in its history, continuing to grappling with such challenges as continued dependence on hydrocarbons, an ossified public sector, stalled economic reform, and youth unemployment. This international workshop aims to convene economists and social scientists from academia and key policy stakeholders to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the Algerian economy. It seeks to bring fresh perspectives on Algeria’s perennial economic challenges and proposed pathways to reform.

Scientific committee.—Abdallah Zouache (Sciences Po Lille and Clersé, Université de Lille), Adeel Malik (Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies and Oxford Department of International Development, University of Oxford), David Cobham (Heriot-Watt University), and Mehdi Bouchetara (Clersé, Université de Lille and Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Management, Algiers).

Organizing committee: Abdallah Zouache (Sciences Po Lille and Clersé, Université de Lille) and Adeel Malik (Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies and Oxford Department of International Development, University of Oxford). Contact: abdallah.zouache@sciencespo-lille.eu or adeel.malik@qeh.ox.ac.uk

Administrative support: Sophie Bécart (Sciences Po Lille) and Sophie Goyat (Clersé).

Agenda

Location: Salle du conseil (9h00 – 17h30) and amphi B (18h-20h) Sciences Po Lille.

9, rue Angellier, Lille.

Day 1 : 7 November 2024

13:30- 14:00. Opening

14:00 – 15:30

Political Economy 1 – Salle du conseil

Chair: Abdallah Zouache (Sciences Po Lille)

Dalia Ghanem (Middle East Council on Global Affairs, Doha). “On the resilience and stability of the Algerian regime.”

Fatiha Talahite (Cresppa, Paris 8 and Economix Nanterre).

“Monetary policy and the Treasury circuit: colonial legacy and postcolonial transformation”

Adeel Malik (Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies and Oxford University) and Ricardo Soares de Oliveira (Oxford University)

“The Politics of Financial Sector Reform. The Comparative Experience of Algeria and Angola.”

15:30-16:00. Coffee Break

16:00 – 17:30.

Entrepreneurship and innovation – Salle du conseil

Chair: Samir Maliki (University of Western Brittany, Brest)

Ouieme Sour (Tlemcen university, Algeria).

“Learning from the World: How Algeria Can Elevate Its ICT and Innovation Sector Through Comparative Insights?”.

Hassaine Amal (Tlemcen university, Algeria) and Abdelhadi Benghalem (Oran graduate School of Economics/ Mecas Laboratory, Tlemcen University).

“An assessment of the Algerian Entrepreneurship ‘Ecosystem’ and Future Perspectives”

Mohamed Sami Mehiaoui (Centre for Peace and Security & Center for Business in Society, Coventry University).

“Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Algeria, Academia and Practice: A Case Study of research with practical impact (An update of the GEM 2013)”

17:30 – 18:00 – Coffee Break

18:00-19:30

Plenary Session 1. Green Economics – Amphi B

Chair: Abdallah Zouache (Sciences Po Lille)

Fateh Belaid, (Lille Catholic University)

“The role of energy efficiency and achieving economic and sustainability targets in Algeria.”

Mourad Kertous (University of Western Brittany, and AMURE, CNRS).

“The multidimensional water crisis in Algeria: What is at stake in the face of economic, social and climatic challenges?”

Samir Maliki (University of Western Brittany, and AMURE, CNRS).

“Sustainability challenges and seawater desalination in Algeria: Toward a Viable Future for Water Security”.

20: 30 – Dinner Patrimoine Kabyle 30, rue Nicolas Leblanc 5900 Lille

Day 2 : 8 November 2024

9:00 – 10:30 Political Economy 2 – Salle du conseil

Chair: Mehdi Bouchetara (Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Management, Algiers and Clersé).

Philippe Adair (Université Paris-Est Créteil, ERUDITE research fellow).

“Trends and Cycles in Informal Employment prior to the pandemic: A curse of a blessing for Algeria?”.

Nor El Houda Bouzegaou, (University of Algiers 3).

“The political economy of media in Algeria: The case of the public Algerian TV channel.”

Rafaelle Bertini (FAO, Rome and Cairo), and Abdallah Zouache. (Sciences Po Lille). “Algeria in the geopolitics of the Arab region”

10:30-11:00 – Coffee Break

11:00-12:30

Energy and diversification: What Transition for Algeria? – Salle du conseil

Chair: Abdou Attou (Oxford)

Nadim Abillama (International Energy Agency). “Energy issues in the Middle East and North Africa”

Messaoud Zerouti, (Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Management, Algiers) “The impact of energy transition on the Algerian national economy.”

Minahil Sana Qasim, (Consultant with the PIU-CPPA, Ministry of Energy, Pakistan) “Evaluation of Algeria’s Energy Policy in the Energy Transition Era”.

12:30-14:00 Lunch Break

14:00-15:30.

Policy Options for Reform – Salle du conseil

Chair: Adeel Malik (Oxford)

Reda Chérif. (International Monetary Fund).

“Call of Duty: Industrial Policy for the Post-Oil Era”.

Amir Lebdioui (Director of the Technology and Industrialisation for Development (TIDE) Centre, Oxford University)

“Energy transition and green industrialization”.

Elias L. Boukrami (Regents’ university London)

“Digitation as a vehicle for Algerian Economic Transformation”.

15:30-16:00 – Coffee Break

16:00-17:30

Monetary Economics – Salle du conseil

Chair: Antoine Parent (Paris 8, LED, OFCE-Sciences Po)

Mehdi Bouchetara (Clersé, université de Lille, France and Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Management, Algiers).

“Evolution and Reforms of the Algerian Banking System.”

Imene Laouarari (Algerian National Transport Agency)

“The interplay between fiscal and monetary policies in Algeria: coordination challenges and macroeconomic stability”.

David Cobham (Heriot-Watt university, Edinburgh).

“Monetary policy frameworks in the world, in the MENA and in Algeria’”.

17:30-18:00 – Coffee Break

18:00 – 19:30

Plenary session 2 / Amphi B RIEME Roundtable discussion:

Prospects for Algeria’s Economic Transformation

Chair: Abdallah Zouache (Sciences Po Lille)

Rabah Arezki, (CERDI, Université de Clermont Auvergne and senior fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School)

Discussion openers : Adeel Malik (OCIS and University of Oxford) and David Cobham (Heriot- Watt university, Edinburgh)