(Ecofin Agency) - Algeria’s deputy minister of Digital Economy and Modernization of Finance Systems, Mouatassim Boudiaf, announced that mobile payment will be launched in the country in 2018. Invited on Dec. 18, 2016 on the “l’Invité de la redaction” show, which is broadcasted on Radio Algérie’s channel 3, the official said mobile payment would come increase the range of digital payment services already available in Algeria. 

Mobile payment will boost financial inclusion of the country’s largest part of the population, that with the lower revenues. It will spur the financial growth of telecom operators who will exploit the new segment, but also that of government. Introducing finance in the mobile telephony sector will help boost e-commerce in the country.

Regarding e-commerce, Mouatassim Boudia said the new bill related to the sector should be presented to the government this month, before being relayed to the parliamentary for approval.

Now concerning e-payment, which was launched in the country on October 4, 2016, Boudiaf said that to date 5,000 transactions have been registered with the new service to which 930,000 people are already subscribed.

Muriel Edjo