Algeria is taking a decisive step toward shaping a more structured and inclusive digital economy. Through the Ministry of Internal Trade and National Market Regulation, the government is preparing a new legal framework dedicated specifically to e-commerce—aimed at empowering young entrepreneurs while strengthening consumer protection.
Speaking at the country’s first National Employment Conference, Minister Amel Abdellatif highlighted e-commerce as one of Algeria’s most promising growth engines. The sector, she noted, has become a magnet for young people seeking opportunity, innovation, and value creation in the digital space.
The numbers support this momentum. According to joint estimates by the ministry and UNCTAD, Algeria’s e-commerce turnover reached $1.9 billion in 2023, a figure widely believed to have already been exceeded. With more than 42 million parcels delivered annually, online commerce is expanding at a pace that now demands clearer rules and stronger oversight.
To prevent the emergence of an unregulated digital marketplace, the ministry is drafting legislation designed to build a professional, secure, and trusted e-commerce ecosystem. The objective is twofold: enable sustainable growth for digital entrepreneurs—particularly youth—while ensuring transparency and protection for consumers.
The initiative aligns with Algeria’s broader domestic market reform agenda, which places digitisation at its core, anchored in trust, knowledge, and accountability. It also builds on priorities outlined during the 4th E-commerce Exhibition (ECSEL EXPO), where the ministry emphasized the need for modern regulation, financial inclusion, and digital infrastructure.
Beyond legislation, the government is working to increase merchant adoption of electronic payment solutions, in collaboration with banking institutions, while accelerating the digitisation of its own administrative services. Business registration and commercial licensing are being simplified through online platforms to reduce friction for entrepreneurs entering the market.
At its core, the reform aims to do more than regulate. It seeks to formalise informal online activity, combat speculative practices, and lay the foundations for a modern digital ecosystem where innovation can scale responsibly. For Algeria’s growing generation of digital founders, the message is clear: e-commerce is no longer a grey zone—it’s becoming a regulated pillar of the national economy.
