Algeria Launches Massive Tomato Project to Rival European Market Leaders

An Algerian group is active in large-scale tomato production, with Dutch technology. It is implementing a mega project. "The trials will begin at the end of May and production will start at the end of October 2024. This is the first greenhouse that has been finalized, other greenhouses will be built. We have 1000 hectares of land, 500 of which are for vegetable crops. It is the largest market gardener in Africa and one of the largest in the world. We will produce tomatoes and all vegetable products," says Abdenour Souakri, head of the group, to TSA.

And the group has the means for its policy. "There is no similar farm in Africa and perhaps in the world. We have space, abundant water, a qualified local workforce and clean electricity. We also have exceptional luminosity in this region," he explains. This project requires an investment of $750 million based on an exchange rate of one dollar for 134 dinars. "We have invested two billion dinars in the first phase of the project out of a total investment of 100 billion dinars. We will create 10,000 direct jobs," specifies Souakri.

The Algerian group has great ambitions. It intends to conquer the European market dominated by Spain and Morocco. In 2023, the kingdom exported 492,000 tons of tomatoes to the European Union for 972 million euros, down 12% in volume compared to 2022, reports the Ecofin agency, specifying that Morocco ranks second among the suppliers of tomatoes to the European Union, behind the Netherlands and Spain. The group also wants its share of the European market. "Our first greenhouse has a production capacity of 6,000 tons of cherry tomatoes and we are aiming for an export turnover of $500 million per year. We will export our tomatoes to Europe and the Gulf countries," the head of the Algerian private group also explains.