Embassy Offices
U.S. Treasury's Technical Assistance in Algeria
In 2007, U.S. Treasury established a multi-disciplined engagement with the Government of Algeria through the U. S. Treasury's Office of Technical Assistance.
The overall head of U.S. Treasury's technical assistance programs is Deputy Assistant Secretary of Treasury for Technical Assistance Larry McDonald and the Director of the Office of Technical Assistance (OTA), in Washington, DC, is Michael Ruffner.
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Larry McDonald
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Treasury for Technical Assistance
Larry.McDonald@do.treas.gov
TEL: 1-202-622-5504
Main Treasury Building - Room 3041
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20220
Office of Technical Assistance
Director
Michael Ruffner
mruffner@ota.treas.gov
TEL: 1-202-927-0249
740 15th Street NW - Fourth Floor
Washington, DC 20005
FAX: 1-202-622-5879
Note:
The U.S. Treasury OTA Advisors who are ‘Intermittent' Advisors generally operate independently of Embassy Algiers; the one ‘Resident' Advisor - Robert Demler - is more integrated into the activities of Embassy Algiers although his professional work at Banque D'Algerie is performed independently of the Embassy.
OTA Banking and Financial Services Program
Associate Director in DC:
Paul Leonovich
pleonovich@ota.treas.gov
TEL: 1-202-622-2451
Resident OTA Advisor:
Robert Demler
rdemler@otatreas.us
TEL: 021-744-404 (Office at Banque D'Algerie)
TEL: 0661-582-489 (Mobile)
Counterpart Institution:
Banque D'Algerie, the Algerian Central Bank, an independent institution
Counterparts:
Bank Governor Mohammed Laksaci; and Director General Ramdane Idir of Direction Générale des Inspections (Banking Supervision)
Focus of Technical Assistance:
- corporate governance issues with the Algerian Banking Sector;
- broad scope technical assistance in banking supervision;
- training and capacity building of inspection staff;
- implementation of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for bank accounting in Algeria; and
- preparing the foundation elements for the eventual adoption those aspects of Basel II that are appropriate for the Algerian context
The members of the Bank of Algeria Inspection Staff are benefiting from training programs provided by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), held in Washington, DC, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), held in Algiers, and various training events provided by the Financial Service Volunteer Corps (FSVC) in Algiers. Also one of the Bank of Algeria's Inspection Staff participated in the U.S. Government's 2009 International Visitor's Program.
Mr. Demler has been resident in Algiers since December 2007. The Terms of Reference for the Banking and Financial Services Program was signed in February 2008 with an open-ended time frame.
OTA Economic Crimes Program
Associate Director in DC:
Carlos Correa
ccorrea@ota.treas.gov
TEL: 1-202-622-3114
Intermittent Advisor:
Carol Kelly, under the direction of Regional Advisor Jerry Rowe who is based in Cairo
ckelly@otatreas.us
jrowe@otatreas.us
Counterpart Institution:
Cellule de Traitement du Renseignment (CTRF), the financial intelligence unit (FIU) in Algeria, an independent agency
Counterpart:
CTRF President Abdelmadjid Amghar
Focus of Technical Assistance:
- anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT) measures;
- development of requisite legislation and regulations;
- development of a well-functioning FIU that is compliant with international standards; and
- training and capacity-building of AML/CFT stakeholders from both the public and private sector.
The Terms of Reference for the OTA Economic Crimes Program was signed in 2009.
OTA Revenue Program
Associate Director in DC:
William Remington
wremington@ota.treas.gov
TEL: 1-202-622-5789
OTA Intermittent Advisor:
Mark Cox
mcox@otatreas.us
Counterpart Institution:
Direction générale des Impôts (DGI), a part of the Ministry of Finance
Counterpart:
Director General Abderrahmane Raouya
Focus of Technical Assistance:
- aiding in devising a program management and organizational approach for the contractual 27 Million Euro DGI system modernization project;
- assessment, strategy and training for public affairs and communication; and
- review and recommendations on internal controls (to include anti corruption objectives) and management measures.
The Terms of Reference for the OTA Tax Program was signed in May 2008 with a duration of three years.