Amel Abdellatif: Algeria Moves to Tighten Commercial Governance, Prioritising Transparency and Compliance
By Dr. Hana Saada
Algeria is advancing a legislative overhaul of its commercial framework aimed at strengthening transparency, regulatory oversight and alignment with international compliance standards, as part of broader efforts to safeguard the national economy and modernise governance.
Presenting the draft law before the People’s National Assembly (APN) on Monday, Minister of Domestic Trade and Market Regulation Amel Abdellatif described the proposed amendments to Law No. 04-08 of August 14, 2004 as a central pillar in a wider reform agenda designed to reinforce the rule of law, enhance transparency and support the transition towards a more diversified and competitive economy.
The draft legislation seeks to update existing provisions in line with evolving economic and regulatory realities, with a focus on improving the transparency of core corporate information, strengthening monitoring and control mechanisms, and protecting the economy from financial misconduct. The initiative comes amid rising global requirements related to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing, now considered essential benchmarks for economic credibility and international financial integration.
At the core of the reform is a strengthened framework governing corporate transparency, particularly regarding ownership structures and the identification of beneficial owners. The text establishes legal obligations to ensure the availability of accurate, up-to-date and accessible information on commercial entities, including data related to incorporation, management and ownership structures, within clearly defined deadlines.
The draft also expands the powers of the National Centre of the Commercial Register (CNRC), enabling enhanced data collection, analysis and exchange, alongside improved risk assessment capabilities and enforcement mechanisms to address non-compliance with reporting obligations.
Operationally, the reform introduces a requirement for traders—both individuals and legal entities—to update their registry data within a maximum period of one month. It also broadens the scope of offences preventing registration to include tax fraud, money laundering, terrorism financing, sabotage and the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as entities subject to targeted financial sanctions.
While reinforcing compliance, the draft maintains a parallel focus on facilitating investment, notably through the consolidation of one-stop-shop mechanisms and the simplification of administrative procedures. The enforcement framework is structured to balance deterrence with legal safeguards, with sanctions applied under judicial authority and subject to due process.
The parliamentary committee on economic affairs, industry, trade, energy and mining has endorsed the draft’s general direction, introducing amendments to enhance legal precision. The committee underlined that the reform is intended to adapt national legislation to global economic shifts and geopolitical pressures, while strengthening oversight mechanisms to prevent the misuse of commercial activities for illicit purposes.
The proposed law reflects a calibrated shift towards a more transparent, rules-based commercial environment—where compliance is not ancillary, but foundational.
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