Tlemcen, 20 March 2018: feedback on the seminar “Strategies and entrepreneurship in the agri-business sector”
Jean-Louis RASTOIN
The seminar was organised by the École Supérieure de Management Tlemcen (EMST) and took place on 20 March 2018 on the school’s premises. This event gathered about 80 participants, who were university lecturers and researchers, senior officials, professional managers and students.
It benefited from the active support of the following partners:
- University of Tlemcen
- Tlemcen Department of Trade
- Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tafna - Tlemcen
- BOUBLENZA Group
- Economic Foresight Institute for the Mediterranean World (IPEMED)
- Association of Tlemcen Business Managers (ACET)
- ANSEJ, CNAC, ANEM, ANGEM/Tlemcen
- National Federation of Young Entrepreneurs (FNJE)/Tlemcen
- Tlemcen Consumer-Protection Association (APACT)
The topic that the organisers chose was rather relevant given the importance of the agri-business sector in Algeria, but also in North-Africa in general, in terms of economic activity and employment, as well as the crucial role of this sector in food safety and nutrition in the Africa - Mediterranean - Europe axis[1].
At first, 4 invited speakers presented the analysis frameworks, as well as the empirical and directional diagnoses for decision-makers:
Pr Jean-Louis RASTOIN, IPEMED associate expert, Professor Emeritus at Montpellier SupAgro - France and founder of the UNESCO Chair “World Food Systems”, talked about the following issue: “What strategic position for Mediterranean agri-food businesses?”. He highlighted the importance of differentiating the products through “complete” quality and territorial origin.
Pr Baghdad CHAIB, Professor at the Faculty of Economic, Commercial and Management Sciences of the University of Tlemcen, presented “The agri-business sector in Algeria: realities, constraints and perspectives”. He highlighted that this sector plays an essential role for the active population and that its development should support that of the population, while structuring the national economy and reducing the high exterior bill.
Mr Sid Ahmed FERROUKHI, former Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, and Professor-Associate at the École Nationale Supérieure d’Agronomie (ENSA) of Algiers, provided an overview of the “Innovations and start-up creations in the agri-business sector in Algeria and in the world”, that support the sectorial prospective scenarios.
Pr Meriem-Hind BEN-MAHDI, veterinary, Director of ESSAIA (École Supérieure des Sciences de l'Aliment et des Industries Agroalimentaires) - Algiers, talked about “Innovation as a driving force to develop the market of regional products”. She explained that these products have a great potential in Algeria, but that their success on the market requires an approach that mobilises efficient technologies and management.
Then, Dr Djamil BENOSMAN, Secretary General of the BOUBLENZA - Tlemcen Group, led a workshop in which very interesting testimonies were made by public structures that support innovative project holders in the Willaya of Tlemcen (Directors of ANSEJ, CNAC, ANGEM, ANEM), by the Director of PAP/ENPARD, by a representative of the Tlemcen branch of the FNJE (National Federation of Young Entrepreneurs[2]) and by the founder and manager of a company that produces local products (jams and condiments).
The numerous questions of the audience and the answers of the speakers showed the great interest of both field actors and public authorities in the high development potential of craftsmanship and agri-business in Algeria. The business demographics is therefore very positive.
This seminar confirms the dynamism of entrepreneurship not only in Algeria[3] but also in North-African countries. It is likely that a geopolitical framework based on balanced co-production partnerships in agri-business value chains and guided by the Sustainable Development Goals will favour the development of hundreds of young companies along the Africa - Mediterranean - Europe axis!
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[1]In this regard, see the publication “For sustainable and shared food security and sovereignty”, Palimpseste #12, IPEMED, 2016
[2] President of the FNJE Council : Nabil Billami http://fnje.dz/FR/
[3]In spite of the scientific and professional character of the seminar, the local press widely wrote about it. http://www.lequotidien-oran.com/index.php?news=5258872
