Initiative, conference boost Algeria hi-tech entrepreneurs

2009-10-26

The Algerian Start-Up Initiative will nurture up-and-coming firms in the new information and communications technology arena, according to government ministers.

By Mohand Ouali for Magharebia in Algiers – 26/10/09

[algerianstartupinitiative.com] Algeria is planning to foster start-up firms that use new information and communications technology.

Entrepreneurs and government ministers, hoping to establish their own "Silicon Valley", unveiled the Algerian Start-Up Initiative (ASI) at a recent conference in Algiers.

The ASI, introduced at the October 19th conference, is designed to spur innovative Algerian business leaders to create more technology start-ups with a focus on new information and communication technologies (ICT).

The event's organisers – which included the National Agency for the Promotion and Development of Technology, the US-Algeria Business Council and US-Algerian business leaders based in California – urged entrepreneurs to look to the latest ICT tools around which to build new enterprises.

"With the skill at Algeria's disposal, we can create a Silicon Valley of our own," said Abdelkrim Salem, an Algerian businessperson based in California.

The Algerian Embassy in the US and the Algerian Ministry for Post and ICT also lent support to the event.

Networking among established ICT business leaders and entrepreneurs was a critical component of the conference. Business leaders shared their expertise in every area of establishing technology start-ups, from creating business plans to submitting patent applications and finding financial backing. They also gave advice on human resource management, marketing and partnerships.

Participants stressed the need to create a new technology investment fund in Algeria to make it easier to finance projects.

To this end, the conference organisers announced an unprecedented competition, in which the top three prize-winners will receive full funding for their enterprises, and will also be provided with a personal advisor and an "intelligence office" in the Sidi Abdallah "cyber-park". They will also have the chance to visit Silicon Valley and meet representatives working on the cutting edge of ICT. Business plans must be submitted by January 31st of next year to be eligible for consideration.

"We can promise you that from a small idea, we can set up a technological business and compete with some of the biggest names in the field," said Yacine Rahmoun, an Algerian businessman who has found success in Silicon Valley.

"Algeria has robust skills which could create rapid development if they were suitably encouraged through policies favouring innovative ideas," Rahmoun added.

Minister of Post and ICT Hamid Bessalah told conference participants that Algeria has made significant progress towards the development of the latest ICT. He heralded the "E-Algeria 2013" project, and emphasised the need to continue along this route to enable Algeria to take its place in the digital revolution.

Conference participants lauded the organisers for bringing a dozen investment fund managers and ICT companies from Silicon Valley to Algiers to participate in the conference. Attendees spoke of a sense of renewed hope in the technology sector, even suggesting that the ASI could very well lead to a "Google – made in Algeria" in the future.