Where We Work / Algeria
Featured market · Resident team in Algiers
Doing Business in Algeria
Algeria is funding national programs in energy, mining, water and agribusiness from its own resources. ISI's resident team in Algiers helps Western companies register with buyers, win contracts and deliver them.
Why Algeria now
Major investment across four sectors
Power & Energy
- About $60 billion planned by Sonatrach for 2026 to 2030, mostly for oil and gas exploration and production.
- A national program for 15,000 MW of solar power by 2035, alongside Sonelgaz investment in new generation and transmission.
Critical Minerals & Mining
- A national drive to develop iron ore, phosphate, zinc and gold, supported by new rail links to the mining regions.
- A 2025 mining law that allows foreign investors to hold up to 80 percent of a mining project.
Agribusiness
- A food security program to cut imports of cereals and milk powder.
- Large areas of Saharan farmland allocated to domestic and foreign investors for cereals, dairy and fodder.
Infrastructure & Industrial
- A desalination program to supply about 60 percent of drinking water by 2030, up from about 42 percent today.
- Plans to expand the rail network toward 15,000 km.
Why Western suppliers look at Algeria
Self-funded programs
Algeria finances its investment programs largely from hydrocarbon revenues and domestic borrowing, with external debt of about 1 percent of GDP.
A shorter bidder list
In our experience, international tenders draw fewer Western bidders than comparable tenders in the Gulf. U.S. suppliers account for under 3 percent of Algeria's imports.
Growing U.S. engagement
ExxonMobil and Chevron have signed agreements with Sonatrach to study new upstream projects, and U.S.-Algeria business forums are expanding commercial ties.
Clearer investment rules
Since 2020, majority local ownership applies only to activities classed as strategic and to companies importing goods for resale, and a 2022 investment law guarantees equal treatment for foreign investors.
Working in Algeria
What to expect, and how we take you through it
Relationships are built in person
Business in Algeria runs on personal contact and face-to-face meetings with decision-makers, and email alone rarely moves things forward.
Our team in Algiers meets your buyers, follows up in person and keeps your opportunities moving between your visits.
Registration comes first
Sonatrach, Sonelgaz and their subsidiaries each keep their own lists of prequalified suppliers, and registration is the first step to bidding.
We identify the entities that buy what you sell and take you through registration with each of them.
Many tenders are still run on paper
Tender documents are often collected in person, and many bids are still submitted as signed and stamped paper files.
We collect tender documents, track clarifications and deadlines, and help you submit a complete, compliant bid on time.
Local content makes bids more competitive
State buyers favor bids that include locally sourced products and services priced in Algerian dinars, and public tenders give a price preference to goods of Algerian origin.
We find qualified local suppliers and subcontractors and help you build a local share into your offer.
Visits start with an invitation
Business visas require an invitation letter from an Algerian host company.
We arrange invitation letters, meeting programs and logistics so every visit is productive.
Contracts are followed through locally
Delivery, acceptance and payment each depend on correct documentation with the buyer, banks and customs.
We stay with the contract through delivery, acceptance and payment.
Business is conducted in French and Arabic
Tenders, technical documents and negotiations are usually in French, with Arabic used for official documents.
Our team works in French, Arabic and English, and handles translation.
ISI in Algeria
Our team in Algiers
Our resident team in Algiers, along with our partners across the energy, power, mining, infrastructure, industrial and agribusiness sectors, supports clients with intelligence and strategy, business development and representation, and execution and operations, whether they are new to the market or already working in it.
Recent work in Algeria includes tender support for equipment and service suppliers to the power and hydrocarbons sectors, agency representation for industrial manufacturers, and local establishment for companies in agribusiness.
See what we do →
Coming soon
Doing Business in Algeria: 2027 Briefing
A practical guide for Western suppliers to Algeria's buyers, supplier registration, tendering, local content and contract delivery. Leave your details and we will send it when it is published.
Frequently asked questions
Questions Western companies ask us about Algeria
Do we need a local agent to sell in Algeria?
In our experience, most Western companies need a local partner, distributor or representative in Algeria to follow tenders, maintain buyer relationships and support delivery, even when they bid directly on international tenders. National tenders are limited to companies registered in Algeria. We help you choose the right route and vet the candidates.
How long does it take to win a first contract in Algeria?
It depends on the buyer and on what you sell. Supplier registration alone usually takes several months, and buyers evaluating a new technology generally want reference projects and technical presentations before they commit. We give you a realistic timeline for your target buyers at the outset, and we manage the steps that set it.
Which sectors offer the most opportunity for Western companies?
Oil and gas, power generation including solar, mining and phosphates, water, and large-scale agriculture are all active, as the programs above show. Your product and your reference projects determine which buyers to approach first.
Can a foreign company own 100 percent of an Algerian company?
In most sectors, yes. Majority Algerian ownership still applies to activities classed as strategic, which include upstream oil and gas, electricity and gas distribution networks, railways, ports and airports, defense industries and parts of pharmaceuticals. It also applies to companies importing goods for resale. Mining projects follow the 2025 mining law, under which a state company holds at least 20 percent and foreign partners up to 80 percent. We confirm the position for your activity at the outset.
Does ISI work outside Algeria?
Yes. Algeria is one of more than 40 countries in which our team has project experience. See where we work.
Working in Algeria, or considering it?
Talk to our Algeria team about your target buyers and a realistic timeline.
Talk to our Algeria team →