In a significant political maneuver, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced a cabinet reshuffle on Monday, appointing Noureddine Ouadah as the new Minister of the Knowledge Economy, Startups, and Micro-Enterprises. The choice of a new startup minister reflects Algeria’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its governance framework and achieve its ambitious socio-economic objectives.
Ouadah, who previously served as the Director in charge of startups, succeeds Yacine Oualid, a trailblazing figure whose tenure was marked by innovative policies and controversial moments. The reshuffle comes as Algeria seeks to bolster its startup ecosystem and diversify an economy long reliant on hydrocarbons.
Ouadah steps into a pivotal role at a time when Algeria is positioning itself as a regional leader in technology and innovation. His appointment signals continuity in advancing the country’s startup agenda while opening the door to potential recalibrations in policy direction.
During his tenure, Yacine Oualid, Algeria’s first Minister of Startups, introduced landmark initiatives, including the creation of a dedicated startup fund, new legal frameworks tailored for startups, and Algeria’s first national startup accelerator, Algeria Venture. He also fostered global collaborations, such as partnerships with Google for Startups MENA, which brought international expertise to local entrepreneurs.
Oualid, who assumed office in 2020 at just 26 years old, made headlines as Africa’s youngest minister at the time. A tech entrepreneur with a background in cloud solutions and logistics startups, he was tasked with creating a conducive environment for startups to thrive.
Under his leadership, Algeria saw the implementation of policies that facilitated the labeling of startups, granting them fiscal advantages, foreign currency accounts, and support for patent registrations. His tenure also included initiatives to establish a new legal framework for crowdfunding and measures to address structural barriers, such as internet quality and data infrastructure.
Oualid’s tenure, however, was not without controversy. A prior conviction for defamation in 2019 raised questions about his political longevity.
One of Oualid’s signature initiatives was sending cohorts of Algerian startups on international tours to tech hubs in the U.S., China, and South Korea. These programs aimed to expose local entrepreneurs to cutting-edge technologies and global best practices. Such efforts were designed to foster skills development, create partnerships, and encourage the return of expertise to Algeria.
“These trips aim to enable Algerian startups to acquire knowledge and expertise from leading universities and technology companies, thereby strengthening their creative capacities,” Oualid remarked during one such initiative.
Algeria Venture, the national startup accelerator established during his term, played a key role in supporting these startups. The accelerator has nurtured several promising ventures through mentorship, funding, and international market access.
As the new minister, Ouadah inherits both opportunities and challenges. While Algeria has made strides in fostering a startup culture, barriers persist, including bureaucratic hurdles, limited access to online payment systems, and the absence of robust data infrastructure.
Ouadah will also need to address questions of scalability and sustainability within the startup ecosystem. Many local entrepreneurs still face difficulties in raising funds and penetrating global markets.
Moreover, the transition in leadership raises questions about whether Ouadah will continue Oualid’s legacy or chart a new course for Algeria’s burgeoning startup ecosystem.
Algeria’s digital economy represents a crucial growth frontier, accounting for over 30% of global economic expansion. By strengthening its startup ecosystem, Algeria could unlock new sources of employment and innovation.
As the largest country in Africa by landmass, Algeria’s ambition to become a regional technology hub hinges on effective governance, sustained investment, and the ability to attract and retain entrepreneurial talent.
The reshuffle underscores the government’s commitment to these goals. For Ouadah, the task ahead will be not just to maintain momentum but to accelerate it, ensuring that Algeria’s startups can compete on the global stage while driving economic transformation at home.
This new phase in Algeria’s startup journey will be closely watched by policymakers, entrepreneurs, and investors, as the country navigates its path towards a knowledge-based economy.