EU – Baltic States, Good for Business, Latvia, Logistics, Transport

“GEFCO offers high-value-added logistics services in Algeria, in line with the Group’s international standards. North Africa is a promising and dynamic region in terms of international trade. The strength of our international network can help our clients develop locally and manage international flows to and from North Africa”, claims Jean-Paul Ornano, Managing Director of GEFCO Morocco and the Group’s Area Manager for North Africa.

By setting up a structure in Algeria, one of the most powerful economies in Africa, (estimated 5.5% growth in 2015, source: International Monetary Fund - report 2014), GEFCO is reinforcing its development in this high potential region. With a population of over 38 million inhabitants, 45% of which is under 25, Algeria is a dynamic country rich in natural resources, particularly hydrocarbons, and it has the 15^th largest oil reserves in the world.

Algeria is well located for trade with Europe, the Middle-East, Latin America and Asia. Positioned at the crossroads of trade corridors, the country’s logistics sector is experiencing significant change, driven by a large number of investment plans and infrastructure modernisation projects.

“With GEFCO’s supply chain expertise, we now aim to contribute to the development of the Algerian logistics sector. We are backed by a network of reliable and efficient partners who meet the highest standards. We are entering the Algerian market with a dynamic team, ingrained with GEFCO’s values regarding quality of service and operational excellence, to help enhance our customers’ performance”, affirms Bertrand de Techtermann, Managing Director of the Algerian subsidiary.

As a major logistics player, GEFCO supports its clients’ development goals, both in countries where they are already operational and in new growth regions. GEFCO now aims to support manufacturers in Algeria in two key expanding sectors, the automotive sector and the energy sector.

The Algerian automotive sector is growing rapidly with sales of new vehicles reaching 423,000 units in 2013, up 20.6% compared to 2012. Ranked n°2 on the African continent, the Algerian automotive market is one of the most promising worldwide. With more than 65 years of experience in the automotive sector, GEFCO meets the needs of international manufacturers, faced with complex international problems in an increasingly globalised economy. This expertise gives GEFCO all the necessary tools to support the development of automobile suppliers and manufacturers in Algeria and North Africa.

The energy sector (Oil & Gas) plays a key role in the local economy and represents 35% of economic growth (source: Central Intelligence Agency – The world factbook 2013). Algeria is currently the 2^nd largest exporter of gas in the world, and production is expected to grow 8% per annum between 2014 and 2018. Algeria’s main trade partners are the European Union, the United States, China, Turkey, Brazil and Argentina, markets where GEFCO is already strongly established with considerable knowledge of their specific cultural differences.

The Algerian subsidiary manages the distribution of new vehicles to dealers for PSA Peugeot Citroën. By the end of 2014, the volumes handled should grow from 90,000 to 105,000 vehicles. GEFCO Algeria also handles Overseas flows, managing containerised cargo for its industrial clients, from Algeria to countries in the Mediterranean and China. GEFCO provides optimisation and customs clearance solutions that enable manufacturers to control their cost/quality/time parameters. The subsidiary is equipped with information systems that ensure worldwide data exchanges and guarantee the load optimisation and traceability.