96 % of Companies in Algeria Run by Private Sector, Survey

Algeria has been losing its industrial network during the last two decades for the domination of the trade sector, concluded the preliminary outcome of the first national economic census conducted by the National Office of Statistics (ONS).

In fact, there are some 528328 trade companies, or 55.1 percent of the existing companies, followed by service sector which embraces 325440 companies. 

Retail activity represents the majority of 84 percent of the trade sector, comparing to 14 percent of wholesale activity.

The ONS report indicated that there are 97 202 industrial companies, of which 4.23 percent operate in the foodstuff industry and 8764 in the construction sector.

The ONS survey, conducted from March to December 2011 and excluded the agricultural sector, concluded also that 90.6 percent of local companies are owned by families.

Moreover, 96 percent of the operating companies are owned by the private sector, by 920307 companies, compared to 2.7 percent which are state owned companies; and 7.1 percent are either foreign or joint venture companies.  

The ONS said the aforementioned figures should be taken into consideration in bi to restore the process of the Algerian economy during the upcoming years, in-line with the country’s needs.