Intelligent CIO Africa Issue 80 | Page 43

COUNTRY FOCUS : ALGERIA untry ’ s IT industry

include but are not limited to IT devices , servers , data centres , cloud computing , hardware , and software . In the IT Sector , the Algerian government is the largest buyer with its institutions and state-owned companies .
Competition in Algeria ’ s ICT sector includes European , Chinese , and South Korean firms . Ericsson Networks , Nokia Networks , and Huawei all have a local presence and have been active in the country for decades . The competitive landscape is intense , and current procurement regulations favour the lowest-cost bidder over the best-value bidder , particularly for appliances and electronic components .
Ecommerce and digital payments
According to Oxford Business Group , widespread use of new technologies has supported the development of e-commerce companies such as pan-African leader Jumia or the Algerian equivalent of eBay , Ouedkniss , a virtual classifieds shopping website . In addition to these , a myriad of micro-entrepreneurs are appearing and have brought a need for increased regulation . It is in this light that Parliament passed a major set of regulations , putting in place a legal framework to accompany the development of online commerce .
Another long-expected regulation included in the post and electronic communications law was in relation to electronic payments . E-commerce owners are now obliged to allow their customers to pay electronically or by cash on delivery . According to the law , online financial transactions must exclusively go through Algérie Poste and be connected to AT payment terminals . Regarding transactions with a party that is established abroad , the law provides an exemption from foreign trade limitations for all products and services in which the transaction value in Algerian dinars does not exceed the current limits of the Bank of Algeria . Besides , e-consumers need to use their foreign currency
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