• Algeria hosts forum showcasing 230 student-led startups from 39 regions
• Event promotes entrepreneurship as response to youth unemployment pressures
• Youth jobless rate hits 28.5%, higher among graduates

Start-ups founded by students are gradually emerging in Algeria as a structural response to youth unemployment. Last week, the central library of Mustapha Stambouli University in Mascara hosted the first National Forum for Young Entrepreneurs.

Held under the theme "Entrepreneurship, Leadership and the Future of Youth," the event was organized by the directorate of youth and sports, in coordination with the Office of Youth Establishments and the wilaya league of cultural and scientific activities. According to local media, 230 young entrepreneurs from 39 wilayas presented their projects to more than 1,500 visitors.

Held from March 31 to April 2, the forum focused on networking and inspiration. Young project holders from the Center for Technology and Innovation Support and university incubators exchanged directly with experienced entrepreneurs, drawing on their career paths to fuel their own ambitions.

At the closing ceremony, presided over by the secretary general of the Ministry of Youth, Dahmane Adimi, awards were presented for the best start-up, the best micro-enterprise, the best self-entrepreneur and the best innovative project idea.

Adimi said the forum "embodies the central place of Algerian youth in national priorities, by offering a space where creativity and initiative come to life." He described it as "a bridge between ambition and reality, allowing young people to discover the latest trends in entrepreneurship."

The event comes as Algeria's labor market remains under significant strain. Nearly 60% of the population is under 30, but that potential has struggled to translate into concrete opportunities. In 2024, the national unemployment rate stood at 9.7%, according to the National Office of Statistics, despite the creation of 450,000 jobs. Young people aged 15 to 24 remain the most exposed, with unemployment reaching 28.5%, while the rate exceeds 19% among university graduates.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou