C. E.: Who is Choukri Karabach?
Choukri Karabach: I am a civil engineer. I am currently in charge of the management of four companies. The company M&C Business which is a company that offers a multitude of services and products for the construction sector. Another company specialized in formwork. As well as two other companies, one of which is dedicated to the computer field.
C. E.: What is your history with Austria since you are now representing the company SCHLUSSELBAUR?
C. K.: My history with Austria goes back to my collaboration with the multinational company DOKA. An Austrian company specialized in formwork. As a young graduate of the polytechnic, I dreamed of building sites as beautiful and as clean as those of the Austrians, where technology in the field of construction reigns. The field of the formwork obeyed the modernization of the construction in Algeria. The Austrian company DOKA recruited me. Today, DOKA is a leader in its field in the field of formwork. Of course, we keep good relations with the Austrian embassy and its commercial section which registered me in their database as a collaborator of Austrian companies and an "expert" in the field of construction.
C. E.: An expert is often called upon. Did the Austrian embassy and its commercial section call on you to respond to any need, for example?
C. K.: Indeed, in 2012, I was asked to make a study on the place of Austrians in relation to the construction market in Algeria. The Austrians thought that they were not established enough in the construction market in Algeria. This was true. This study was an honor for me because in the majority of the cases, one entrusts this kind of studies to so-called specialized and equipped offices...
The adventure was a success insofar as, in this study, I found key elements, important for the commercial section that commissioned me to do the work. It was presented in Vienna during a meeting organized by the commercial section where Austrian businessmen who are interested in many sectors of manufacturers were attracted by the Algerian market. Contacts were established and the potential of the Algerian market was put forward. Businesses were even triggered and concretized, I can assure you of this fact.
C. E.: For example?
C. K.: There are examples in the medical sector. Until now, hospitals were built without taking into account the environmental aspect. The people in charge of planning were not involved in the construction of hospitals.
The idea was that the hospital was just a building. The Austrian experience has shown the opposite. Before a hospital is built, a whole environmental study is carried out. This is what caught the attention of the University of Medicine in Vienna, which wanted to contribute to the efforts in Algeria. They are currently on a very important tender. As a direct result of these contacts, many Austrian suppliers were able to sell their building materials...
C. E.: You spoke earlier, citing the study that you have developed for the commercial section of the Austrian Embassy in Algeria, key elements. Which ones precisely?
C. K.: It is related to the involvement of Austria in the Algerian market. It is too weak. In relation to the trade register, Austrian companies registered in Algeria represent 0.08% of the 24% that represent European companies registered in the Algerian RC. In relation to the volume of imports, we must ask ourselves the crucial question: what should we import? Importing machines, knowledge ... we all agree, but importing to resell as is, it poses a problem. We must regulate imports. The share of industrial equipment, according to official figures, is 42%. Austria's share is only 0.77%. This also raises questions, because everyone knows that this country has a culture of doing things right. Our wish is that we experience the same thing in Algeria (...)