MPs underline need to diversify national economy

FINANCE BILL 2014 PRESENTED AT LOWER HOUSE

Members of the National Popular Assembly (Lower House) stressed Wednesday during the debate on 2014 finance bill the need to diversify national economy which is largely relying on hydrocarbon incomes.

Deputy Hadjirah Khelifa from the Front of justice and development (FJD) said that Algeria’s oil tax system decreased during the last months due to dwindling of oil prices in the global markets that adversely affect the national economy.
For his part, Rachid Mouni from Alliance of Green of Algeria (AAV) affirmed that relying on oil incomes “misrepresents national economy. Financial and economic indicators place Algeria in a comfortable position while reality is different as economy is still vulnerable.
Besides, he called for beneficiating from Algeria’s oil incomes and economic well-being in order to implement development programs and build a productive economy.
During the debate on the bill, members of the National People’s Assembly called for deletion of some provisions mentioned the bill like the prohibition for car dealers to sell vehicles through credit and exemptions and reductions of taxes, reaffirming the need to accompany these measures by a report attesting their effect on the economy.
The evening session will be devoted to questions from the presidents of the parliamentary groups.

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Telecoms : Algeria’s experience in e-government

Algeria’s experience in e–administration has been presented Monday in Algiers by Minister of Post and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Zohra Derdouri at a regional North Africa workshop on e-government.In her opening address at the three-day workshop, Derdouri said that the e-government project aims at simplifying the administrative procedures.The e-government consists in optimizing the possibilities offered by ICTs to improve public services at all levels for the benefit of citizens through online forms, she explained.The e-administration also allows the strengthening of intersectoral communication and coherence through system interoperability, she added at the workshop, which is organized by the African Development Bank in collaboration with the Ministry of Post and ICT and South Korea’s National Computing and Information Agency.The minister underlined that the improvement of governance is one of the five main lines of the government’s action plan, adopted in 2012 and which is part of the five-year development programme (2010-2014) of President of the Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

EL MOUDJAHID

UNITED NATIONS DAY : President Bouteflika for new post-2015 program

President of the Republic, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, urged Monday the United Nations Organization, on the occasion of its day, to establish a new post-2015 development program, "so as to meet the peoples’ expectations for well-being.""To this urgent call is added the need for projecting our peoples’ expectations for a fairly shared wellbeing in a new post-2015 development program and through the conclusion of a new agreement on climate change," President Bouteflika underlined in a message read by FM secretary general Nourredine Aouam, on the occasion of United Nations Day.According to him, these new gains, that Algeria "fully supports, should reinforce UN central role in harmonizing the interests and combining the efforts of member states to achieve extraordinarily important common objectives."In this regard, he recalled Algeria role and its commitment in the UN organization, mentioning the various contributions it brought to the international community."Algeria is proud to be an active and committed member of the United Nations. Its contemporary history, notably its national liberation struggle and the multifaceted contributions it kept giving to promote peace, friendly relations and cooperation between Nations, make ample proof," he emphasized in his message."The prevention actions and conflict settlements in which Algeria contributes, its commitment against terrorism and transnational crime, as well as its contributions to practical solidarity in development, chiefly the complete writing-off of the debts for large number of brotherly and friendly countries, are as convincing evidence," he added.President Bouteflika reiterated "Algeria commitment to a fruitful dialogue among religions and cultures."

Western sahara : President Bouteflika underlines human rights monitoring

President of the Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika underlined Monday the necessity to set up a mechanism for human rights monitoring and protection in Western Sahara, which has been struggling for its independence since nearly 40 years."The necessity to set up a human rights monitoring mechanism in Western Sahara is more topical than ever," said President Bouteflika in a message to the African Conference of Solidarity with Sahrawi Cause in Nigerian capital, read on his behalf by Justice Minister Tayeb Louh."Algeria remains convinced that the expansion of MINURSO (United Nations Mission for Referendum in Western Sahara)’ mandate to include human rights monitoring is a necessity," said the Head of State."Algeria remains convinced that the expansion of MINURSO (United Nations Mission for Referendum in Western Sahara)’ mandate to include human rights monitoring is a necessity," said the Head of State."International community should not remain indifferent to the systematic violations of human rights in the occupied territories to suppress the peaceful struggle of citizens for the freedom of association, demonstration and expression," said President Bouteflika.The Head of State also reiterated Algeria’s support to the Sahrawi cause, adding that "Algeria, which has always fully supported the struggle of peoples for freedom, particularly in our continent, will continue to support the people of Western Sahara in their struggle for their rights."

EL MOUDJAHID

Voyage à Alger : Reportage de la chaine RTBF

The literary works of novelist and journalist Isabelle Eberhardt (1877-1904) were revisited during a cultural meeting organized at Ain Safra arts centre, in Naama province (600 km southwest of Algiers), at the initiative of the cultural association Safia Kettou, in coordination with the association of Eberhardt’s friends.


El Moudjahid

Heritage : Culture ministry makes southern regions patrimony top priorities

 

Culture Minister Khalida Toumi underlined Friday in Tamanrasset (1970 km south of Algiers) the "huge efforts" made by her department for the preservation of heritage in the southern régions.


Culture Minister Khalida Toumi underlined Friday in Tamanrasset (1970 km south of Algiers) the "huge efforts" made by her department for the preservation of heritage in the southern regions.In a speech read on her behalf by the Director of cultural properties legal protection and cultural heritage enhancement at the Ministry, Mourad Batrouni, at the opening of a workshop on the project of the preservation of biodiversity and the sustainable use of ecosystem services in cultural parks, Toumi said that "huge efforts have been made by her department to raise awareness about the need to preserve the heritage of the southern regions.""The first phase of the project focused on the management tools of Ahaggar and Tassili parks at the legal and institutional levels, implemented according to Algeria’s strategic goals," she explained."The results of the project’s first phase were positive, which allowed us to launch the second phase so that all the cultural parks, including the Saharan Atlas, Tindouf, Touat, Gourara and Tidikelt parks, will benefit from it," said the Minister.Toumi underlined in her speech that the "economic development can’t be achieved without the preservation of cultural heritage to better contribute to the achievement of sustainable development."

El Moudjahid

FM Lamamra dubs positive tour

Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra on Monday dubbed "positive" his regional tour to Mauritania, Mali and Niger, underlining the willingness of the three core countries to "strengthen" their cooperation with Algeria.

Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra on Monday dubbed "positive" his regional tour to Mauritania, Mali and Niger, underlining the willingness of the three core countries to "strengthen" their cooperation with Algeria.
"The trip was extremely positive as the three Heads of State and their governments have received with high consideration and respect the ideas expressed b President of the Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika in his messages," Lamamra told the press on the sidelines of the ceremony organized on the occasion of the United Nations Day.
The presidents of the three neighbouring countries "have expressed freely and in all sincerity their willingness to enhance regional cooperation, and their perception of the steps that have been achieved and the requirement for future steps in order to face together the different challenges in our region, especially in terms of security, stability and development," said the Foreign minister.
"They were extremely eloquent in their description of the key role of Algeria in the region and they were also very clear in the expectations they expressed regarding the strengthening of the bilateral and sub-regional cooperation," he added.
Lamamra was on regional trip to Mauritania, Mali and Niger from Thursday to Sunday, during which he held talks with senior officials of these countries.

El Moudjahid

"Algerian University is the country’s pride," says Sellal

PRIME MINISTER ON WORKING VISIT TO SETIF

Algerian University, and especially that of Setif (300-km east of Algiers), is the country’s pride considering the high level it has reached, Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal, on a working and inspection visit to the province, said Tuesday.

Sellal, who attended a lecture on the new technologies, given by Prof. Fatima Setifi, from the Science Faculty, stressed that "Algerian University should focus on technological sciences which are the bases for the building of a country, economy and civilization."
"The Algerian University, in which 1.3 million students are registered, has a large number of teachers, but needs to adapt to the relevant environment and meet the technological challenges, which represent the future of the country."
The Premier, at the end of the lecture, answered students’ questions about the development of student status, employment and development of scientific research.

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For promoting investment, encouraging domestic production

FINANCE BILL 2014 PRESENTED AT LOWER HOUSE

The Finance Bill 2014 presented Monday by Finance Minister Karim Djoudi before People’s National Assembly (lower house), introduced measures to encourage productive investment, promote domestic production and promote job creation especially in the South.

The 90 article of the Bill include provisions designed to curb imports, reduce the tax burden, and facilitate access to housing and encourage investment in the provinces of South.
Among the measures encouraging and guiding investment, the bill provides the removal of specific provisions on granting benefits to investment projects amounting to more than DZD 500 million and below DZD 1.5 billion.
The Finance Bill 2014 which expects an overall growth rate of 4.5% and 5.4% outside oil also contains a relief of approval procedures for foreign direct investment projects or in partnership with foreign capital by the suppression of their mandatory reviewing by the National Investment Council (CNI).
Encouraging foreign investments that contribute to the transfer of know-how or those producing goods with an integration rate exceeding 60% is also one of the measures in this bill.
The Finance Bill includes, among other things, the authorization granted to the Board of State Holdings (CPE) to set the subsidy rate and the period of delayed clearance of loans granted by banks and financial institutions to businesses and public institutions as part of their restructuring and development.
Other measures are also proposed such as the development of the banking network, the credit worthiness of SMEs in granting investment loans and renewal of exemptions on equity products.
The promotion and protection of domestic production is also one of the most important measures, (of the Finance Bill) proposes, the exemption of vehicles and trailers locally produced from tax on new vehicles.
It is also includes the obligation for car dealers and importers of vehicles to install an industrial activity or service or any other activities that have a direct and indirect relationship with the car industry within three (3) years. The investments made in this context can enjoy the benefits granted under the ANDI.

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Sellal inspects progress of construction of mega water-transfer project in Sétif

PRIME MINISTER ON WORKING VISIT TO SETIF

SETIF (Algeria)- The mega water-transfer project, designed to convey yearly over 300 million cubic meters to the province of Sétif (300 km east of Algiers) as from the dams of Ighil Emda (Bejaia) and Erraguene (Jijel) has been inspected Tuesday by Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal who insisted on delivering this project before late 2014.

This DZD billion-budget mega project, part of the development of Setif high plains, is equipped with East system resulting in a new dam built in Draâ Eddis, near El Eulma, which will receive Erraguene dam waters and a West system leading to a new water detention structure in the locality of Mahouane, few kilometers of Sétif, and where will be stored waters stemming from Ighil Emda dam in Kherrata (Bejaia).
The "West" section will be delivered during 2014, declared the officials of water resource directorate.
This project of large transfers is one of the most important projects that Algeria has launched since independence. It is also considered as the most difficult to have been initiated in the country in terms of the technologies used for its building.
The "significant" impacts of these large transfers were highlighted by the officials in charge of the project who have recalled that thanks to this project, 40,000 hectares of additional farmland, mainly grain will be irrigated, in addition to providing drinking water for a population of 1.3 million. .

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Public investment programme 2010-2014: DZD10,000 bln for human development

Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security Mohamed Benmeradi said Monday that DZD10,000 billion have been devoted to human development, under the public investment programme 2010-2014.

Human development, which is an important factor in the national recovery process, initiated by President of the Republic in the early 2000s, has benefitted from a budget of DZD10,000 billion, as part of the public investment programme 2010-2014, Benmeradi said at a seminar on human resources management.
The minister added that a significant part of the investments has been devoted to the development of human resources, mainly through "strengthening scientific and technical capacities and diversifying training, to better meet the economic requirements."

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