$635m contracts signed for Algeria’s Baladna dairy megaproject
By Dr. Hana Saada
Algeria has signed a second tranche of contracts worth more than $635m for the implementation of the Baladna Algeria agricultural and industrial project, a large-scale dairy venture centred in Adrar and aimed at producing milk powder.
The agreements, concluded in Algiers with Algerian and foreign partners, cover services, livestock supply and core infrastructure. The signing ceremony at the International Conference Centre was chaired by Agriculture Minister Yacine El-Mahdi Oualid, in the presence of Baladna representatives, Qatar’s ambassador to Algeria Abdelaziz Ali Al-Naama, and executives from participating firms.
The package advances key components of the project, including herd development, civil engineering works, a concrete plant, accommodation facilities and the launch of a dairy cattle import programme.
Mr Oualid described the scheme as one of Africa’s largest milk powder projects, with the potential to unlock investment across southern regions. He framed it as a model for transforming desert land into integrated agricultural production zones.
Qatar’s ambassador said implementation would proceed on schedule under a phased plan, reflecting what he called the shared vision of both countries’ leaderships. Ali Al-Ali, chairman of Baladna Algeria, said progress had accelerated following the first tranche of contracts signed in July 2025.
Omar Rekkache, head of the Algerian Investment Promotion Agency, said the latest agreements marked a decisive shift from planning to execution, underscoring partners’ commitment to delivery. He added that subcontracting opportunities would be opened to domestic firms and start-ups.
Salah Labani, chief executive of the National Investment Fund, highlighted strong local participation, with seven Algerian companies involved, including GCB, a subsidiary of Sonatrach, tasked with developing core infrastructure for facilities designed to house 33,250 dairy cows. He said the contracts would help conserve foreign currency and boost domestic production—central to Algeria’s broader push for economic diversification.
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