“Forbes Afrique” magazine: Saïda Neghza, among 50 most influential personalities in Africa
By: Hana Saada
ALGIERS- Saïda Neghza, president of the General Confederation of Algerian Enterprises (CGEA), has, once again, been listed by the famous economic and financial magazine “Forbes Afrique” among the 50 most influential businesswomen in Africa.
Neghza is considered, by this magazine, as one of the most eminent entrepreneurs from North Africa, being a wealth creator, job provider and a driver of the economic dynamism observed on the continent.
The magazine shed light on the rich career of Saida Neghza, the head of Soralcof, an Algerian group active in construction and public works, and the Managing Director of the General Confederation of Algerian Enterprises (CGEA) – the oldest employers’ organization in Africa’s largest country and fourth continental economic power. It referred to her emergence in the 1990s with a coffee roasting company, before embarking on a new journey in the construction sector. On another level, Saïda Neghza is also a fervent and committed defender of the rights of women and children.
One more recognition for Saida Neghza, the Algerian “iron woman” who demonstrates professionalism, but above all, her know-how in management. A businesswoman who has always defended the interests of Algerian companies and the economic development of Algeria. This choice is also a vibrant tribute to a woman who has made her way as a strong manager of employers.
Noting that the prestigious economic and financial magazine “Forbes Afrique” listed, last April, Saïda Neghza among the 20 most influential economic entrepreneurs on the African continent. This is a fair recognition of Mrs. Neghza’s managerial skills and, through her, a tribute to the entrepreneurial spirit and mastery of management of all Algerian entrepreneurs, among whom she increasingly reinforces its position as the leader of employers.
Here is the link to Forbes Afrique’s article:
https://forbesafrique.com/top-50-forbes-women-zoom-sur-les-entrepreneuses-venues-du-maghreb/
Who is Saïda Neghza?
Saida Neghza is an Algerian prominent figure, and the leader of the Algerian economy. She is very active locally and internationally, particularly in the Mediterranean basin, African continent and the Arab world. She maintains a unique local, regional and international presence with a view to building a better understanding between nations, hence, installing genuine long-term economic stability and prosperity.
She occupies many positions, as she is the Managing Director of Soralcof Algeria, the President of the General Confederation of Algerian Enterprises (CGEA), and founding member of Businessmed, an organization that brings together nineteen employers’ confederations from countries in the Mediterranean basin.
Saïda Neghza, who chaired the Businessmed from 2017 to 2020, is currently taking the helm of the African employers through Business Africa, which brings together fifty – four countries. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Labor Office and the International Labor Organization (BIT/ILO) and the African representative within the Organization International Organization of Employers (IOE).
In addition, and after being elected in September 2021, as a member of the board of directors of the Arab Labor Organization (OAT) for a two-year term, the president of the General Confederation of Algerian Enterprises (Cgea), Saïda Neghza, propelled to the head of the Board of Directors of this organization. Her election was approved by the organization’s three teams at the 48th session of the Arab Labor Conference held in Cairo. This is the first time that Algeria chairs the Board of Directors of the Arab Labor Organization. An honor to be added to its glories thanks to the Algerian Lady who took the reins of this prestigious Council.
Locally, as we know, New Algeria has embarked on a very ambitious reform program of its legal framework to boost all-around investments with the aim of achieving economic recovery. This latter is being achieved at different levels thanks to the judicious and far-sighted policy adopted by the country’s high authorities, under the leadership of the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and Minister of National Defense.
Algeria is deploying significant efforts to create an environment conducive to the transition from a rentier economy to an economy with diversified incomes without dependence on oil and price volatility on international markets. Start-ups, for their part, will fuel this transition. For this purpose, a ministerial department has been created and a bank will be dedicated to monitoring and supporting young project leaders.
Welcoming the diversification of the economy, lifting the dependence on hydrocarbon export, and the emergence of start-ups, Neghza exerts huge efforts to crown these measures with success with the aim of establishing sustainable development and a healthy business climate, being a gate to prosperity and sustainable growth. She believes that the new incentives and the updating of the legal framework for investments offer promising prospects in Algeria, resulting in a booming investment climate.
She is accompanying the state in its efforts as the employers’ organization CGEA she chairs constitutes a bridge between entrepreneurs and public authorities. CGEA brings together under one roof all sectors of activity and all companies; large, medium, small and very small enterprises (TPE). It also promotes young people and start-ups, particularly academics, by creating bridges between universities and the world of work. She has encouraged the operators to invest in agriculture and in several ongoing projects thanks to the establishment of the Odas platform [Office for the development of industrial agriculture in Saharan lands].
Internationally, Neghza conducts intense economic diplomacy, in accordance with the Algerian State’s policy on foreign trade, cooperation and partnership, especially with the regional environment of which Algeria is a pivotal pole. Aware of Algeria’s pivotal political, economic and cultural role, Neghza has taken upon the responsibility of implementing President Tebboune’s guidance in this regard with all possible means with the aim to realize the aspirations of the state and serve the interests of the country. Her tours have culminated in the conclusion of many partnership agreements covering different spheres of life aimed at further enhancing the position of the Algerian economy.
