The President of the Republic, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Minister of National Defence, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, on Tuesday chaired a meeting of the Council of Ministers devoted to two bills relating to the prevention and repression of the illicit use and trafficking of narcotics and psychotropic substances, and the conditions and modalities of granting economic land in the private domain of the State, as well as a statement on practical measures to limit the phenomenon of asphyxiation by burnt gases, says a communiqué of the Council of Ministers.
“Mr Abdelmadjid Tebboune, President of the Republic, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Minister of National Defence, today chaired a meeting of the Council of Ministers devoted to two draft laws, the first one relating to the prevention and repression of the illicit use and trafficking of narcotics and psychotropic substances and the second one setting the conditions and modalities for the granting of economic land belonging to the private domain of the State and intended for the implementation of investment projects, as well as a presentation on the practical measures to limit the phenomenon of asphyxiation by burnt gases (carbon monoxide) in homes.
After the opening of the session by the President of the Republic and the review of the Government’s activities over the last two weeks by the Prime Minister, the President gave the following directives and instructions:
First: regarding the draft bill setting the conditions and modalities of granting economic land in the private domain of the State and intended for the implementation of investment projects:
The President ordered the revision and enrichment of the bill, taking into consideration the following guidelines:
– The spirit of the law must be based on the freedom of the citizen to invest in his field of competence, avoiding the severe abuses that the country has experienced in the field of industrial land.
– Algeria’s vision, through this law, is to encourage investment in an integrated perspective for a development take-off that guarantees a stronger economic dynamic.
– The President of the Republic stressed that the granting of land for economic purposes must be accompanied by real legal flexibility in order to encourage and attract investments, while taking into consideration the State’s interests.
– Relying entirely on the digital system to avoid bureaucracy, with the one-stop-shop system aiming to deliver projects faster and more efficiently.
– In addition to the equitable distribution of investment projects throughout the country, the draft law must take into consideration the nature and objectives of the projects according to the characteristics of each region and its efficiency.
Second: regarding the presentation on practical measures to limit the phenomenon of asphyxiation by burnt gas (carbon monoxide) in homes.
-In order to protect the lives of our fellow citizens, the Council of Ministers has decided to instruct Sonelgaz Group, as of today’s meeting, to equip homes with detector systems (light and sound) free of charge to prevent carbon monoxide emissions.
– The specifications for the construction of all types of housing projects must include this kind of system.
– The President ordered the Ministries of Trade, Industry and Start-ups to coordinate the drafting of a new law on the creation of standardisation and safety control laboratories in all areas.
– Ensure coordination between the Ministries of Higher Education, Industry and Start-ups for the recruitment of researchers and specialists in these new laboratories.
– He has ordered the drafting of firm legal texts prohibiting any damage to heating systems, gas piping and energy sources that supply homes, while prohibiting their modification once delivered.
– He ordered the opening of technical and quality control laboratories throughout the country under the control of Sonelgaz to check the household electrical equipment that causes the most accidents in the home, mainly heaters.
– Encourage local industrials to cover the demand on the national market for quality heating equipment and systems that meet safety standards, with high-level technical support to equip all housing under construction.
Thirdly, the President praised the draft bill on the prevention and repression of the illicit use of and trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, which provides for measures to protect society from this scourge. The Council of Ministers adopted the bill after debate.
General guidelines:
– Regarding the public works sector:
– Accelerate the creation of a mixed company of railway industry, in collaboration with renowned foreign experts in this field, with the aim of achieving a railway network covering the whole national territory, connecting the North to the South, and facilitating transport for the benefit of economic operators.
– Give absolute priority to the extension of the railway, notably that of Ouargla-Tamanrasset, Ghardaïa-El Menia and Gara Djebilet-Béchar, given the economic and strategic importance of these axes.
The President enjoined the government to redouble its efforts to increase the production of agricultural crops, particularly wheat, and to increase the rate of its production to 30 quintals/hectare, the objective being to achieve, as soon as possible, self-sufficiency in this strategic product, especially since all the conditions are combined to achieve the objective this season.
– The President reiterated his guidelines on the immediate release of land in forest areas in the wilaya of Tissemsilt for the construction of rural housing and for the use of farmers.
– The President of the Republic has also given firm instructions to the government to work according to a forward-looking vision in all sectors, instead of day-to-day management, and to give paramount importance to the concerns and aspirations of our fellow citizens.
At the end of the meeting, the Council of Ministers approved decrees on appointments to senior state positions.
