70% of imported products sold on the black market

Illegal traders hold sway on 40% of the overall money supply exchanged in Algeria as they control most of the basic commodities including, meat, fruits and vegetables, in addition to clothes and shoes.

•  
•  
•  
•  
• The black market employs 25% of the Algerian workforce helping thus to prevent a social uprising in the country.
•  
• Although it comprises some positive aspects, the black market is one of the factors that hampered the Algerian authorities’ negotiations to join the World Trade Organization which required from them to make an end to this illegal business.
•  
• Estimates released by experts reveal that 1600 illegal markets are scattered over the country set up in public squares, sidewalks, nearby mosques and even beside legal markets.
•  
• The average spending of the citizens to acquire these commodities exceeds 80% of their monthly income squandered on products mainly brought from abroad, the same estimates revealed.
•  
• Economic experts warn against the prevalence of corruption and bureaucracy caused buy this illegal business in the sense that it relies on cash instead of credits allocated by banks to the operators, giving freeway to bribery.
•  
• Moreover, this phenomenon has caused great financial loses to the treasury due to tax evasion estimated at 300 billion Algerian Dinars over the year 2009, it said.