The temporary reopening of the platform for importing raw materials and industrial equipment in Algeria, from April 14 to 30, is accompanied by strict restrictions that illustrate increased control over production-related flows.
The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Export Promotion announced in a statement published Monday the resumption of operations via its digital platform dedicated to the import of raw materials and
industrial equipment.
This reopening, however, remains subject to specific conditions, limited to so-called exceptional situations, notably cases of force majeure such as natural disasters, technical incidents, or major accidents.
In line with these measures, the authorities specify that only duly justified applications accompanied
by documents in PDF format will be examined. Applications related to an increase in production capacity or the signing of new export contracts may also be considered.
Conversely, any application not strictly meeting these criteria will be “systematically rejected,” reflecting a commitment to rigorous screening of transactions. This restrictive approach also extends to bank account domiciliation procedures.
The ministry advises operators to contact their original banks in the event of a license withdrawal,
while severely limiting the possibilities for modification.
Changing branches within the same institution remains permitted under specific administrative conditions, while any transfer of domiciliation between banks is explicitly refused, “regardless of the reason.”
This particularly rigid administrative framework reflects a centralised management of imports in a context marked by tensions in external balances.
Several economic operators mention operational constraints likely to slow supply chains, particularly for industries dependent on imported inputs.
Beyond the technical aspects, this partial reopening highlights the trade-offs made by the Algerian authorities between supporting the productive sector and controlling foreign currency outflows.
The adopted system thus underscores a move towards tight control of imports, at the risk of exacerbating uncertainty for economic actors engaged in production cycles dependent on foreign sources.
MK/ak/te/Sf/fss/as/APA