Qatar's Baladna to invest in Algeria to offset powered milk shortages

CAIRO – Qatar’s Baladna has signed on Wednesday a 3.5 billion dollar contract to build a powdered milk farm in the region of Adrar in the south of the country, Algeria’s agriculture ministry said.

The mega-billion-dollar project  is expected to help meet 50 percent of Algeria’s demand for the dairy product with an expected yield of 200,000 tonnes of powdered milk per year.

The project, which covers an area of 170,000 hectares in the Adrar province, includes “a farm for growing cattle feed, a farm for cattle and producing milk and meat, and a factory for the production of powdered milk,” the Algerian agriculture ministry said in a statement.

“Algeria aims to reduce its imports of powdered milk and to create jobs for its youth, and Baladna’s output will come online in 2026,” it added.

Algeria has seen several milk shortages in recent years and heavily relies on imports for powdered milk.

“We are looking forward to working together with our Algerian partners to build one of the world’s largest vertically integrated dairy companies. This strategic partnership not only aligns with our ambitious growth objectives but also promises significant returns and long-term value for our shareholders,” said Malcolm Jordan, CEO of Baladna.