The vital sector of small and medium-sized enterprises and handicraft in Algeria recorded in 2008, a growth rate of 9.91% (9.53% in 2007).

• This represents an overall number of 376 .767 entities, against 342. 788 for the previous year.
• This steady evolution was translated into the creation of 94. 851 new jobs that is a growth of 8.19%.
• The good showing of this vital sector of activity is being confirmed through the 30. 000 newly-declared economic entities whose goal is to beef up the fabric of these profit-yielding enterprises.
• Contrary to the buoyant private sector, the public sector is markedly losing ground due to several factors linked to the unbridled liberalisation of the country’s economy.
• The number of public small and medium-sized enterprises plummeted to 15.45% by the end of 2006 reaching only 739 operational entities.
• For its part, the sector of handicrafts is picking up with 106. 222 related trading activities recorded so far across Algeria, 105. 365 of them are individual craftsmen.