“A land of enormous potential”
U.S. AMBASSADOR to Algeria

Because of Algeria’s huge hydrocarbon reserves, U.S. oil companies have long had a strong presence there. In fact, the country has the second-highest level of U.S. investment in the Arab world, the bulk of it in the energy sector. Even during the turmoil of the 1990s, the oil companies hung in there. Now that security has
improved considerably, horizons have opened up for corporations in other sectors.

The U.S. Ambassador in Algiers, Janet Sanderson, is upbeat about future prospects. “The U.S. government – and certainly the private sector – believes that Algeria is a country of enormous potential,” she says. “It has a young population, it is beautifully located, with Europe to the north and Africa to the south, and it has enormous natural resources.”
Recently, the American Chamber of Commerce was set up, with more than 40 companies represented. More are likely to join. “We have seen an acceleration of interest on the part of companies which have not been involved in the oil and gas sector,” says Ambassador Sanderson.

Bilateral economic ties are advancing hand-in-hand with a significant boost in U.S.-Algerian political relations. President Bouteflika was in the United States twice last year, both before and after September 11. Far from souring relations between the two countries, the attacks and their aftermath brought the two governments closer together.
“Algeria was one of the first countries to offer its condolences,” Ms. Sanderson explains. “I think Algerians feel they have had their own terrible experience with terrorism, so perhaps more than people in many other countries, they understand what happened to the United States, and how it affects not only the country but also individuals.”

Though it is quite difficult for ordinary Algerians to get visas to visit the U.S., bona fide Algerian businessmen and people involved in various training programs are increasingly making the journey across the Atlantic. “We have sent some people from Algerian companies to work on issues related to standards and the harmonization of standards,” Ms. Sanderson cites as an example. “We also intend to send Algerian magistrates to the United States to look at how we enforce our intellectual property laws.”

She acknowledges some of the big challenges the Algerian government has to face, such as meeting the population’s need for housing, health and education. “Those are all areas in which American companies can help,” she says. “And all are areas in which there are significant business opportunities.”