Launching the “Mini-Import” (Kâba) Activity for Self-Employed Contractors in Algeria: A New Opportunity to Regulate Individual Trade
In an important step to bolster the national economy and bring the informal import sector under the legal umbrella, Algerian authorities have recently issued an executive decree that sets out the conditions and procedures for practicing the “mini-import” activity—popularly called kâba—for the benefit of self-employed contractors. This decision marks a qualitative shift in regulating an activity that was previously outside the scope of the law and now allows Algerian youth to engage in imports in an official, organized manner.
What Is Mini-Import Activity?
Mini-import involves import operations carried out by natural persons who hold self-employed status during their trips abroad, with the aim of reselling limited quantities of goods inside Algeria. The value of goods imported on each trip is capped at 1.8 million Algerian dinars, with a maximum of two trips per month. The activity must be conducted personally and exclusively by the self-employed individual, without combining it with another commercial activity or salaried employment.
Legal Framework and Conditions
The new decree provides a clear legal framework, granting mini-importers several advantages:
- Exemption from mandatory registration in the commercial registry.
- Exemption from prior import licenses.
- Maintenance of simplified accounting under the supervision of the relevant tax authorities.
- A reduced customs duty of 5% on the value of imported goods.
- Requirement that import operations be financed from the individual’s own foreign-currency account.
- Prohibition on importing medicines, goods requiring special licenses, or items classified as prohibited or sensitive.
Importance and Economic Impact
This new regulation aims to integrate the mini-import sector into the formal economy, enabling the state to recover tax revenues and reducing the size of the parallel economy. It also provides legal protection for self-employed contractors, granting them transparent market access, ensuring traceability of goods’ origins, and safeguarding consumer health.
Moreover, the decision boosts employment opportunities for youth and nurtures entrepreneurial spirit by facilitating a profitable activity within a legal and organized framework, supported by the Self-Employed Contractor Law, which offers advisory services, training, and multi-sector digital support.
How to Register and Benefit?
To take advantage of this activity, interested individuals must register in the National Self-Employed Contractor Register through the National Agency for Self-Employment, which offers an electronic platform to streamline registration procedures. Applicants must meet the basic legal requirements for self-employment, such as being of legal age, holding Algerian nationality or legal residency, and conducting an activity listed among the eligible professions.
Conclusion
The launch of the mini-import (kâba) activity for self-employed contractors in Algeria is a strategic move to strengthen the national economy and organize a sector that once suffered from legal ambiguity. Through this new legal framework, the website jobsdz offers all those interested in self-employment the chance to stay informed, register, and benefit from this promising activity—supporting Algerian youth in achieving financial independence and contributing effectively to the national economy.
