On October 4, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune presided over a Council of Ministers meeting, which covered five key points, including the 2027 finance bill. Following an update on the 2026 cereal harvest, Tebboune tasked the Minister of Agriculture, Sid Ali Khaldi, with organizing a specialized Council of Ministers meeting on agriculture. The date for this meeting has not been announced.
The 2026 cereal harvest was expected to be exceptional, with projections of over 5 million tons, a record high in several years. On July 28, President Tebboune announced Algeria would achieve self-sufficiency in durum wheat for the 2026 campaign. The President has been closely monitoring the sector, and on September 20, the Council of Ministers mandated a monthly cereal production bulletin to be followed by regional authorities.
The Council of Ministers also approved financing from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the El Meniaa–In Salah–Tamanrasset section of the railway line to the Grand South. Although the loan amount was not specified, the President ordered the immediate launch of the various sections of the line, with an acceleration of work.
In addition to agricultural and railway projects, the Council evaluated the implementation of agreements with Niger and Chad. The President instructed the Prime Minister, Sifi Ghrieb, to continue consultations with his Nigerien and Chadian counterparts. This follows a recent attempted coup in Niger, which Tebboune described as a "provocation."
The Council of Ministers also validated a presidential decree approving the charter of the "Green Middle East" initiative, adopted in Riyadh by participating countries. This development occurred during a meeting largely focused on the economy and major projects.
President Tebboune has been actively engaged in promoting agricultural development, having previously called for a more effective agricultural orientation law. This law aims to allocate cultivated areas to annual crops according to the country's needs. Furthermore, he ordered the immediate digitalization of payment for harvests to the Algerian Interprofessional Cereals Office (OAIC).
The President's emphasis on agriculture and large-scale projects reflects his administration's priorities. With a focus on economic growth and development, the government is working to enhance agricultural productivity and infrastructure, including the expansion of the railway network. Key initiatives, such as the "Green Middle East" and agricultural cooperation with neighboring countries, are expected to play a significant role in this endeavor.
Key points
- President Tebboune has ordered a Council of Ministers meeting dedicated to the agricultural sector.
- Algeria aims to achieve self-sufficiency in food production, with a focus on cereal crops.
- The country is investing in infrastructure development, including a railway line to the Grand South.
