On Monday, March 9, 2026, the National Economic, Social and Environmental Council hosted a conference‑debate at its headquarters on the project “Gara Djebilet: From a Mineral Deposit to a Sustainable Development Zone.” The event was attended by the Secretary of State to the Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mines, responsible for Mines, Ms. Karima Bakir Tafer, who emphasized the project’s economic and development dimensions.
The meeting was also attended by the President’s Advisor for Finance, Banking, Budget, Foreign Exchange Reserves, Public Procurement and International Regulations, Mr. Farid Yaïci; the President of the National Agency for Health Security (ANSS), Professor Kamel Sanhaji; and the Director General of the Algerian Agency for the Promotion of Investment (AAPI), Mr. Omar Rekkache. Representatives from the Council of the Nation, several ministries and leading academic experts and university professors were also present.
The conference centered on the Gara Djebilet project and its associated logistics corridor, which is regarded as a key driver of economic and industrial sovereignty and reflects the strategic vision of the President of the Republic to position large-scale economic projects at the heart of the national sovereignty strategy.
In his opening address, the President of the National Economic, Social and Environmental Council, Professor Mohamed Boukhari, underscored the importance of large‑scale infrastructure—specifically the 950 km railway completed in record time—which embodies a deep strategic vision in which extraction, transport, energy, industrial processing and local development chains are integrated into a harmonious, interconnected framework. He stressed that this integration strengthens national sovereignty, ensures industrial security and enhances the competitiveness of the national economy while contributing to its diversification.
Ms. Tafer affirmed that the Gara Djebilet mine constitutes “the cornerstone” of the country’s efforts to reinforce economic sovereignty. She noted that the President’s decision to commence exploitation of this deposit, together with the completion of the mining railway linking Tindouf, Béchar and Gara Djebilet, marks a decisive turning point in the valorization of national mineral resources.
The conference proceedings focused on defining concrete, practical mechanisms for national advancement. Contributions came from a distinguished group of experts and researchers, as well as representatives of ministries, government institutions and economic operators.
Experts addressed the project’s various dimensions—institutional, strategic, economic, social and environmental—and presented comparative studies with projects in other countries. They outlined the specific expected benefits, including local job creation, the development of emerging small and medium‑sized enterprises, the promotion of the energy transition, and contributions to food security and the decarbonization of the transport system.
Furthermore, academics and specialists presented future prospects for the project with the objectivity required by the national interest, while highlighting the points of vigilance necessary to ensure optimal, comprehensive and sustainable implementation of the established strategic vision. They emphasized that an integrated corridor of this scale must comply with the highest international standards in the field.
Finally, the synergy of efforts among all participants—particularly academics, specialists, government bodies and journalists—was identified as a genuine lever for achieving the project’s objectives and transforming “Gara Djebilet” into a true engine of national economic growth and a reinforcement of the country’s sovereign economic independence.
In his closing remarks, Professor Mohamed Boukhari, President of the Council, reiterated that the anticipated gains from the Gara Djebilet project are considerable, especially in light of the new requirements of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), a crucial factor that must be taken into account.
He stated that such projects stimulate the national economy, positioning Algeria among emerging manufacturing nations with accelerated growth dynamics, and that they could elevate the country to the status of a prominent regional actor - provided they are supported by a clearly defined roadmap.
In conclusion, he emphasized that this project forms part of a continuum of major structural initiatives central to Algeria’s economic sovereignty strategy, notably the integrated phosphate complex, the Oued Amizour zinc extraction project, the Trans‑Saharan road and the Algiers-Tamanrasset railway line.
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