E-Payment Expansion: A Strategic Shift Towards Algeria’s Digital Economy

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | November 12th, 2024 — Algeria is set to witness a significant transformation in its financial landscape as the government accelerates the integration of electronic payment systems across multiple sectors. A short-term action plan, spearheaded by the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Finance, aims to eliminate barriers to e-payment and ensure widespread adoption, beginning with justice fees and National Gendarmerie fines, and extending to all public institutions.

Comprehensive Strategy for Digital Transformation

The Ministry of Finance has established a strategic committee supported by a technical subcommittee led by the Directorate General of the Treasury. These bodies are tasked with coordinating efforts, monitoring progress, and addressing obstacles in implementing e-payment solutions. This initiative seeks to modernize financial services, reduce cash dependency, and enhance operational efficiency.

Minister of Finance Laaziz Faid, in a written response regarding the 2025 Finance Bill, emphasized the importance of digitizing banking services to improve customer experiences and streamline public revenue collection processes.

Raising Awareness Through Educational Initiatives

Coinciding with World Savings Day, the Association of Banks and Financial Institutions has launched open-door events in universities and higher education institutions nationwide, running from November 10 to 13, 2024. These events aim to cultivate financial literacy, promote financial inclusion, and educate young Algerians about digital banking services, including online payments, electronic cards, and bank account benefits.

E-Payment Milestones and Impact

As of October 2024, Algeria has made considerable strides in e-payment infrastructure:

• Card Transactions: Over 19 million payment cards in circulation, including more than 4 million CIB cards and 14 million issued by Algeria Post.
• ATM Network: A total of 3,896 operational ATMs.
• POS Terminals: The number of operational electronic points of sale (POS) rose to 58,194 by October 2024, marking an increase of 5,003 devices from the previous year.
• Online Payments: Since its 2016 inception for public institutions, 510 merchants have joined the online card payment system.

E-payment transactions are steadily increasing. By October 2024, electronic POS transactions totaled nearly 490,000, amounting to 4 billion Algerian dinars, underscoring the growing public trust in digital financial tools.

Sector-Specific Rollouts and Future Plans

E-payment facilities are progressively being integrated into public institutions. Notable achievements include:

• 1,871 POS terminals deployed across sectors, with significant allocations to justice services, customs, tax administration, and the National Police.
• Initiatives with the Ministry of Justice to facilitate card payments for justice fees and National Gendarmerie fines.

These efforts align with the overarching goal to enable remote payments on public sector websites, laying the groundwork for comprehensive adoption across all public institutions by 2025.

Driving Economic Modernization

The government’s strategy reflects a broader commitment to fostering a robust digital economy. By addressing technical challenges, building awareness, and enhancing infrastructure, Algeria is poised to achieve significant progress in financial modernization, supporting economic growth and improved public service delivery.

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