Farid Kourtel takes over Algeria’s industry portfolio with factories idle and major challenges ahead

Farid Kourtel is taking charge of Algeria’s industry sector at a moment when the government wants factories, investment plans and local production to deliver measurable results.

Appointed on Wednesday, Kourtel inherits a portfolio filled with unfinished projects. The automotive sector is among the most closely watched, particularly as recent statements from South Korean officials suggest that the Hyundai project may be nearing implementation.

The new minister must turn government priorities into concrete gains in local production, industrial integration and value creation outside hydrocarbons. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has set a target for industry to account for 15% of gross domestic product. Authorities want that expansion to involve mechanical industries, textiles, agrifood and construction materials.

The 2027 deadline, linked by the president to a projected GDP of $400 billion, adds pressure to the assignment. Kourtel, who has served as the president’s economic adviser since March 2026, will need to connect announcements and investments with results visible on the ground.

Hyundai is one of the main files awaiting his attention. After several interrupted automotive ventures, Algeria wants new projects to include a larger share of components made domestically. The ministry will also have to consider the future of sites previously used by Kia in Batna, Volkswagen in Relizane and Hyundai in Tiaret. Reusing those facilities could help put existing industrial infrastructure back to work.

The challenge extends beyond producing the first vehicles. The success of the new projects will also depend on whether they bring Algerian companies into parts manufacturing, subcontracting and supply chains.