Algeria’s minister for the knowledge economy, start-ups and micro-enterprises says the government is in advanced talks with a World Bank Group institution to create an investment fund for Algerian start-ups. It is a stated plan by an official, not a signed agreement. No fund has been announced, and the minister gave no size, instrument or timetable.
Noureddine Ouadah made the remarks in an interview with Asharq Bloomberg, published on 8 November 2026. According to the Arabic report, Algeria wants to launch the initiative during the fifth African Start-up Conference in Algiers, which runs from 5 to 7 December. English and French reports add that the talks are held jointly with the Ministry of Finance. The Arabic report does not mention that ministry.
Which institution? The Arabic Asharq Bloomberg report names the World Bank (البنك الدولي) in its headline and text. It does not name the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Some English and French reports say the talks are with the IFC, the World Bank Group’s private-sector arm. AlgeriaNow’s English report does so. An algerie360 French report names the IFC in its body although its headline says “Banque mondiale”. We did not find a transcript or recording of the interview, and found no statement from the World Bank Group or the IFC on the talks. This article therefore refers to the World Bank, as the Arabic report does.
What is and is not on the table. The minister said the initiative aims to mobilise more than US$10 million in capital increases for some Algerian start-ups during the conference. Some English and French reports describe that money as coming from international investors. It is a target, not a fund size or a commitment. Reports do not say whether the vehicle would invest equity, lend to companies or combine both.
The conference. The fifth African Start-up Conference runs from 5 to 7 December 2026 at the Abdelatif Rahal International Conference Centre in Algiers, under the theme “DEEPTECH: The Real Challenge”. The organiser’s website says the ministry and Algeria Venture organise it under the high patronage of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and lists more than 40 ministerial delegations and 150 investors. The minister’s remarks, as reported, put attendance above 25,000. AlgeriaNow and algerie360 say the World Bank and African Development Bank are expected; neither appears on the organiser’s page as we read it. A GP/LP Summit on 6 December is run with the Algerian Startup Fund. Reports do not link that existing fund to the planned vehicle.
Scale of the ecosystem. The minister said Algeria had about 200 start-ups in 2020 and now has more than 15,000 “innovative projects”. That count includes support structures such as incubators and accelerators, so it is not a count of start-ups.
Still unknown: the fund’s size, its instrument and governance, which investors would take part, and whether it will be launched at the conference. Until an official text names the institution, the World Bank is the only institution the Arabic report supports.
StartupNews Africa also covered state-backed start-up fund plans on 14 November in Nigeria and Kenya.
Sources
- Asharq Bloomberg (Arabic), "الجزائر في محادثات متقدمة مع البنك الدولي لتمويل الشركات الناشئة" (8 November 2026)
- AlgeriaNow, "Algeria in very advanced talks with World Bank arm on start-up investment fund" (9 November 2026)
- TSA Algérie, "Startups : l'Algérie négocie des financements avec la Banque mondiale" (8 November 2026)
- Algerie360, "Start-up algériennes : un fonds avec la Banque mondiale" (8 November 2026)
- African Startup Conference, "DEEPTECH: The Real Challenge" programme and organiser information
