Le bilan positif du CNESE – Le Jeune Indépendant

This is a positive observation presented by the National Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CNESE), affirming that the year 2023 was characterized by economically balanced indicators and notable progress in the social field, which represents a basis strong for 2024 and beyond.

This assessment was presented last Thursday by the president of the CNESE, Rabia Kherfi, during the 6e session of the general assembly of the Council. Among the main indicators is an encouraging economic growth rate achieved by Algeria, estimated at 4.1% and a GDP of almost 260 billion dollars in 2023, while the trade balance recorded a surplus of around 10 billion dollars, thanks to exports worth $54.7 billion, with an increase of approximately 3% compared to 2022, compared to $44.3 billion in imports. This is what emerges from the economic, social and environmental report for the year 2023 and the report on social and human development, key achievements and challenges 2019-2023 which were presented.

On this occasion, Ms. Kherfi affirmed that the CNESE recorded “positive indicators in the economic, social and environmental fields, reflecting the efforts made by the Algerian State to improve the standard of living of citizens and boost development in order to create employment and diversify the national economy.

In this regard, she indicated that foreign exchange reserves reached 69 billion dollars, with a growth of 24% in budgetary revenues, in addition to an increase in oil tax revenues of around 20%, in addition to ordinary revenues ( +28%) and tax (+17%), as well as an increase in the volume of internet transactions at a rate greater than 77%.

Furthermore, she highlighted Algeria’s achievements in the energy sector by strengthening its position on the world market in 2023, thus becoming the second largest supplier of natural gas to the European Union, with a remarkable increase in its exports of liquefied gas.

Regarding social indicators, she affirmed that Algeria has achieved several achievements, including those accomplished in terms of law, by completing the legislation relating to the protection of citizens’ rights, in addition to numerous social achievements.

She cited, among the achievements, the revaluations of the retirement pension, the creation of unemployment benefit as well as the promotion of the role of women and young people within society, in addition to “the significant progress made at the level of the human development index (HDI), achieved thanks to the efforts made by the State in the areas of health and education, as well as the achievement of important achievements in terms of food security, thanks to the achievements of the agricultural sector, which has experienced a qualitative leap in recent years.

Ms. Kherfi emphasized these achievements “achieved thanks to the efforts made by the State over the last three years, as part of the realization of the commitments of the President of the Republic aimed at providing material and social support to needy families, including taking care of the urgent needs of gray areas (…) and continuing efforts to take care of the needs of citizens in terms of housing and public services.”

On the other hand, Ms. Kherfi mentioned a set of challenges “requiring the combined efforts to put an end to their potential impacts”, at the head of which “those imposed by increased and accelerated global and regional geopolitical changes threatening the economies of countries as well as their national stability and security, in addition to the challenges of increasing climate change that the world is experiencing.

It should be noted that the session saw, after presentation of the two reports, a debate led by experts, focusing on their content, in addition to discussions on global geopolitical changes and their possible impacts on the economic and social circumstances of the countries. After approval of the two reports, Ms. Kherfi stressed that the recommendations recorded during the debate will all be taken into account.