The smartphone (mobile phone) assembly units in Algeria were closed in 2019. This activity was subject to ordinary customs duty and ceased to benefit from the SKD/CKD collection import scheme. The assembly units therefore ceased their activity.
This activity (local assembly of smartphones) did not encourage national integration, while the import bill for its components was very high, the authorities justified. It seems that this activity will have to resume in Algeria.
Indeed, already in April, a working session was held in Algiers. Chaired by the Minister of Industry and Pharmaceutical Production, Ali Aoun, in the presence of the Minister of Post and Telecommunications, Karim Bibi-Triki, and the Minister of Trade and Export Promotion, Tayeb Zitouni, this meeting was an opportunity to take stock with economic operators active in the field of mobile phones.
These operators had presented “different experiences in the assembly of mobile phones under the old SKD and CKD systems, welcoming the experience gained during this period and the investments made, knowing that the production lines are ready to relaunch this industry.”
Candor Electronics is ready to start manufacturing mobile phones, only specifications missing
The head of the Condor Electronics group, Mohamed Salah Daas, spoke to the newspaper Algérie Aujourd’hui about his company’s predispositions to manufacture smartphones locally. ” Our new smartphone production unit is ready and we are just waiting for the publication of the new specifications relating to this sector to relaunch this activity officially,” he said.
The ball is therefore in the executive’s court to get the mobile phone assembly units back on their feet in Algeria. ” We have already carried out all the tests required for the launch of production, and our new unit is ready to be operational as soon as the new specifications are published,” said this official who assured in particular that the authorities want to accelerate the implementation of the new regulatory and legislative framework to allow the launch of new industrial projects for the local manufacture of mobile phones.
