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AVI Consulting proudly presents you “ Doing business in West Africa” By Philippe Bakahoukoutela

AVI Consulting proudly presents you “ Doing business in West Africa” By Philippe Bakahoukoutela. Tips of doing business in West Africa Familiarise yourself with the peoples , the country, the politics and the social culture Familiarise yourself with the business culture

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AVI Consulting proudly presents you “ Doing business in West Africa” By Philippe Bakahoukoutela

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  1. AVI Consulting proudly presents you “ Doing business in West Africa” By Philippe Bakahoukoutela

  2. Tips of doing business in West Africa • Familiarise yourself with the peoples , the country, the politics andthesocialculture • Familiarise yourself with the business culture • Be knowledgeable about the countries infrastructure • Familiarise yourself with the Financial systems • Know who your partners are/is • Be aware of the local competition • Be aware of your target market • Know where to find your labour • Be aware of safety and corruption matters • Build relationship with local communities & authorities through your CSI

  3. FIRST STOP “Doing business in Nigeria” “Bawu ni”

  4. Familiarise yourself with the peoples, the country politics and the social culture • Nigerian world faster growing populations ( 128,771,988 with 250 ethnic group mostly Hausa and Yoruba Igbo (Ibo) • Religion in Nigeria include mostly Christian ( Majority) and Muslim • Daily temperature above 33 C • Very warm and hospitable peoples • Very entertaining through cinema, club, sport • Fashion lovers • Good alcohol consumer ( soft, wine, etc…) • Generally stable, peaceful and united countries

  5. Business Culture • business is conducted very informally and in a traditional fashion but professionally • very strict forward but yet effective approach of dealing • Meeting take place until late in the evening • Time factor or punctuality • Business are open from 8:00-17:00 • Dress code in meeting both formal and traditional

  6. Be knowledgeable about the countries infrastructure • Transport: Roads, maritime and aviation are most effective ways transport but road remains more economical and safety is of less concern. Principal alter linking major city and countries are fairly paved. • Energy : electricity supply guaranties dispute shortage in same part of the country • Communication: Telephones - mobile cellular: 9,950,000 subscriber most effective way of communication

  7. Familiarise yourself with the Nigerian Financial systems • Banks: regulated. • Trading currency: Naira & US $ & Pounds • Access to finance guarantied at concurrential rate ( 15% over 5 years) • Money transfer out of the country authorise but not exciding 50 Million US $). • Fiscal policy: number of taxes legislations but foreign companies get incentive that enable them to save over US $ Millions yearly and are taxable just like any Nigerian company.

  8. Know who your partners are/is • Nigerian Investment Promotion Agency ( NIPA) • Chamber of Commerce and Industries • Conduct due diligences before entering into a partnership with any business organisation/partner

  9. Be aware of your target market • Only over 35 % of the total population dispose of income throughout the countries 55 millions peoples( active population) • Employees from private companies 20% (estimate) • Employees from Government and others stated owned institutions 15% (estimate)

  10. Be aware of the local competition Premier Breweries

  11. Consumer types • Upper class: wine, whiskey 15% • Middle class: Heineken, Amstel, golden max 20% • Lower class: Stars( adventurous, outgoing peoples) 51%

  12. Labour Market • Labour force: 55.67 million • Nigerian one of most educated nation on the continent • Cheap and skilled labour • Minimum remuneration $ 70-00; skilled over $ 5 000-00 • Be aware of labour movement attitude • Recruitment done through: NIPA, stated department, professional bobies, directly with companies, advert through newspapers,

  13. Be aware of safety and corruption matters Safety: • There are no go in Nigeria due strong believe related customs & religions( Mainly in Niger delta, Kanu state) Corruption: • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2007 Nigeria Now 32nd Most Corrupt, Says Transparency International Offshore financing aids official looting Survey reveals By Abimbola Akosile ( source) • Don’t institutionalised corruption within your business conduct in Nigeria • Report act of corruption

  14. Corruption trends (Source transparency International report)

  15. Build relationship with local communities & authorities through your CSI • Very important to have sound relationship local community & traditional leaders • Have influences local authorities ( government, securities forces,ect…) • Give back to local community through uplifment programme in the field of sport or education

  16. SECOND STOP “ Doing business in DRC” Mbote na biso

  17. Familiarise yourself with the peoples , the country, politics and the social culture • Population of over 58,784,400 (estimated) • French dominant and official language followed by lingala • Dominantly Christian nation • Daily temperature above 24 C • Very hospitable & Fun loving ( most popular musician in the region are DRC) • Fashion lovers ( men & women) • Recovering from 6 year conflict but relatively stable

  18. Familiarise yourself with the business culture • Business is conducted from Monday- Friday (08:00-17:00) • Business meeting only take place until 17:00 pm • Dominantly formal business dress code • Men and women are both very accessible and open to ideas • women’s still play a secondary role in business

  19. Business environment "The Government of the DRC has committed itself to creating an environment conducive to private-sector led growth, as evidenced by the forthcoming democratic elections, the promulgation of the new mining code, and the establishment of macro-economic stability leading to the renewal of economic growth. We believe the implementation of the EITI will provide further evidence to the international business community that the DRC is open for business.“ Source: http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/219645/adastra

  20. Be knowledgeable about the country infrastructure • Telephones mobile most suitable mode of communication with over 6.592 million (2007) • Maritime & aviation are the most recommendated • Electricity supply not a concern despite lack of adequate supply in other part of the country

  21. Familiarise yourself with the DRC Financial systems • Bank well regulated , loans access guarantied for foreign companies at least 12% ; transfer of funds requires no limits. • friendly fiscal policy toward foreign investor

  22. Know who your partners are/is • ANAPI ( Agence Nationale de Promotion des Investissements) • Patronat Congolais • Confederation des entreprises du Congo

  23. Be aware of the local competition • 5 Breweries throughout the country: SIMBA; UNIBRA ; Societe des brasseries de Kinshasa; Brasserie du Kasai; Bralima • Locations: Kinshasa; Lubumbashi, Kasai.

  24. Be aware of your target market • Only 28 % of the total population are working each a stable income (est. 2007) • Close to 50% of the active pop are in informal economy • 10 % in the formal economy : own business, entrepreneurs

  25. Know where to find your labour • Department of labour in DRC • Through ANAPI • Keep close to you labour movement • Through advert in the newspapers; directly with companies.

  26. Be aware of safety and corruption matters • Safety Capital City improved since 2003 • Avoid going to province of the east for more safety • According to Transparency International, DRC has the eighth highest level of corruption in the world. “ A head of department makes less than €2 a day. Remote forest service staffs are left without equipment, with no access to a car and out of contact with the distant capital Kinshasa “ (http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/forests/africa/problem) • Rather built relationship

  27. Build relationship with local communities & authorities through your CSI • build relationships with local authorities , community & traditional leaders ; • Support local uplifment programme whether in education or sport; • Respect the culture within your area of operation.

  28. THIRD AND LAST STOP “ Doing business in Ghana” “Akwaba”

  29. Familiarise yourself with the peoples , the country , politics and the social culture • Population of 23,832,495 • Official language spoken English followed by Asante • Daily temperatures above 33 C • Majority of population Christian followed by Muslim • Very traditional but yet moderate • trusted and hospitable peoples • Fun and sport lovers (soccer); keep abreast with politics locally through your embassy but relatively stable

  30. Familiarise yourself with the business culture • Business hour are from 08:00 till 17:00 • Meeting are conducted formally with a traditional element in it • Business code is both formal and traditionnal • Most business peoples are sport lovers especially soccer • Womens still linking behind on second position in business

  31. Be knowledgeable about the countries infrastructure • Telephones - mobile cellular:7.604 million (2007) • Radios:12.5 million listeners • Televisions:1.9 millions viewers • internet users: less than 1 Millions • Electricity – supply less of concern • Roadways: total: 62,221 km • Airport advisable for transportation purposes

  32. Familiarise yourself with Ghana Financial systems • Ghana has a well-developed banking system • In addition, cedi depreciation had raised the banks external liabilities • Trading currency: Cedis; Pounds; US $ • Access to finance guarantied • Money transfer done at no limit

  33. Corruption and safety • In Transparency International's 2008 Corruption Perceptions Index, Ghana is ranked 67th out of 180 nations, and receives a score of 3.9 out of 10.0. ... • Relatively peaceful country • Cities accessible from all corners

  34. Local Competition • Companies: Guinness Ghana Breweries Ltd; Ghana Breweries Ltd; Accra Breweries Ltd • Location: Accra, Kumasi • Distribution stores: 100 Throughout the countries

  35. Market share ( est.) AB: 20%; GB:12%; GGB: 8%

  36. Consumer types • Upper: Wines, whiskey • Middle: Amstel, Guinness • Lower: Stars( adventurous ; outgoing peoples)

  37. Target Market • Over 38 % of the working force is are income earners • Self employed from informal sector constitue over 20 % of the total population ( est. 2007) Labour • Abondant ;skilled ; cheap; accessible through Government; Chamber; union federation and newspapers aids. • Have sound relationship with labour federation

  38. Workforce trend • 65 % of total population is economically active (est.) • 20% employed • 40% unemployed

  39. Local partners • Ghanaian Investment Promotion Agency • Ghanaian Chamber of Commerce and Industry • Professionals Bodies

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