Interview : Abdelouahab Rahim, Chairman of Arcofina Holding and the Algiers Medina project

What is Alger Médina?

Abdelouahab Rahim - It's a 100-hectare project destined to become Algiers' main business district, but it will also be a leisure and living area, with a shopping centre, marina, etc. The Hilton hotel has been located here since 1993, as has the Algeria Business Center tower, which houses offices for Air France, 3M, Coca Cola and HSBC and opened in 2005.

So this is a long-term, multi-stage project?

A. R. - In fact, the next phase, which will include two new office towers and two other residential towers with hotel services, is already underway and should be completed around 2015. The next phase will of course depend on the country's economy. But the financing comes exclusively from private funds.

What will the neighbourhood look like in the long term?

A. R. - We want to turn Algiers Medina into an international district, with a business district concept, and give the city a new economic, cultural and social dimension. In all, there will be 2.5 million m2 of office and residential space (we're only at 180,000 at the moment), between 15,000 and 20,000 jobs and 2,000 luxury homes. A footbridge project should also link the district to the future Great Mosque of Algiers.