Michelin restarts Algerian plant after 9-year hiatus

CLERMONT-FERRAND, France (Jan. 28)—Groupe Michelin has restarted production at its Hussein Dey truck tire plant in Algiers, Algeria. The operation had been mothballed since 1993 because of political turmoil in the former French colony. Located in the suburbs of Algiers, the reopened unit has 290 employees, including 70 who had maintained commercial operations and looked after the facility during the nine-year break, according to a Michelin statement. "We are proud to be the first French multinational to decide to re-invest in Algeria," said Michelin managing partner Rene Zingraff. The Michelin executive said a series of challenges face the tire operation, including "bringing the level of Michelin Algerie's manufacturing quality up to the standard of the group, winning back business lost in Algeria since the shutdown in 1993, and ensuring the security of our staff and operations." He hopes meeting these challenges would contribute to restoring peace in Algeria.