VOL. XL

No. 14

7-April-1997

ALGERIA

Algerian Finance Minister Upbeat About Economic Growth

The Algerian Finance Minister, Mr. Abd al-Karim Harchaoui saidlast month that his government expects gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by 5.0% inreal terms in 1997, compared to 4.0% in 1996 and 3.8% in 1995. He also predicted thatinflation would fall to 9% in 1997 from 18% in 1996 and 30% in 1995. Mr. Harchaoui notedthat the trade surplus in 1996 stood at $4.2bn, compared to a deficit of $900mn in...