Promote:
Invest in the Central African Republic
A short guide for companies expanding into the Central African Republic: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Central African Republic at a glance
Population
5.51 million
Population was 5,513,282 people in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, population, Central African Republic, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$3.07 billion
GDP was US$3.07 billion in 2025, in current United States dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, GDP in current dollars, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per person
US$556
GDP per person was US$556.1 in 2025, in current United States dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growth
4.5%
Real GDP growth was 4.5 percent in 2025, according to the World Bank.
Source: World Bank WDI, real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
3.1%
Consumer prices rose 3.1 percent over twelve months to June 2026, according to the central bank (BEAC).
Source: BEAC, CEMAC inflation note to June 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of June 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$43.8 million
Foreign direct investment inflows were US$43.8 million in 2025, in UNCTAD data.
Source: UNCTADstat, foreign direct investment flows, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the CFA franc (XAF), the common currency of the six CEMAC states.
Source: WTO, CEMAC Trade Policy Review, common report, August 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 16, 2023
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
No investment promotion agency was found; the Commission Nationale des Investissements gives technical opinions on Investment Charter approvals.
Source: Central African Republic, Investment Charter, June 2018 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
The GUFE brings the registry, tax, labor and trade services together so a company can register, amend or close in one place.
Source: GUFE, missions page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
The Investment Charter of 2018 reserves no sector for Central African nationals.
Source: Central African Republic, Investment Charter, June 2018 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
The Investment Charter of 2018 describes the investment incentives and names no free or special economic zone.
Source: Central African Republic, Investment Charter, June 2018 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in the Central African Republic
- Check whether a foreigner needs prior authorization to trade; none is needed when Central African nationals hold at least 51 percent and the company's seat is in the country.Ministère du Commerce et de l'IndustrieOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Central African Republic, Commercial Code, December 2016 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of December 30, 2016
- Draw up the statutes before a notary or under private signature, have private statutes authenticated at the GUFE, and deposit the share capital in a bank.Notary or Guichet Unique de Formalités des Entreprises (GUFE); commercial bankAuthentication of privately signed statutes: 10,000 CFA francs for three copiesOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Interministerial order on statute authentication fees, 2019 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 13, 2019
- File one dossier and one payment at the single window to register the company and get the commercial register entry.Guichet Unique de Formalités des Entreprises (GUFE)Company setup cost of 146,000 to 196,000 CFA francs as of 2023Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review, Central African Republic annex, 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 16, 2023
- Get the tax identification number and pay trade tax with the tax directorate.Direction Générale des Impôts et des Domaines (DGID)As of 2023: trade tax at a falling rate from 1 percent to 0.2 percent of turnoverOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review, Central African Republic annex, 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 16, 2023
Show 5 more set-up steps
- Request Investment Charter approval from the trade minister before operations start, after the National Investment Commission's technical opinion.Ministère du Commerce et de l'Industrie; Commission Nationale des Investissements (CNI)Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Central African Republic, Investment Charter, June 2018 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Get any sector authorization from the technical ministry that regulates your activity.Technical ministry for the activityAs of 2023: authorization costs range from 0 to 100 million CFA francsOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review, Central African Republic annex, 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 16, 2023
- Register the lease for your premises with a notary and the land registry.Notary and land registryOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review, Central African Republic annex, 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 16, 2023
- Register as an employer with the national social security fund.Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale (CNSS)Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review, Central African Republic annex, 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 16, 2023
- Follow the exchange rules when you transfer earnings or capital abroad, with the supporting documents the rules require.BEAC exchange rules; commercial bankOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Central African Republic, Investment Charter, June 2018 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with GUFE and DGDDI. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Meet requirements
Business registration one-stop shop
GUFE
Guichet Unique de Formalités des Entreprises
Registers, amends and closes companies in one place, with the registry, tax, labor and trade services together.
Visit GUFE (opens in a new tab)Source: GUFE, missions page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Meet requirements
Investment approval commission
CNI
Commission Nationale des Investissements
Gives the technical opinion on requests for the Investment Charter's tax and customs benefits.
Visit CNI (opens in a new tab)Source: Central African Republic, Investment Charter, June 2018 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 3 more organizations
- Meet requirements
Regional central bank
BEAC
Banque des États de l'Afrique Centrale
Regional body
Publishes the foreign exchange regulations and instructions that govern export proceeds and transfers in the six CEMAC states.
Visit BEAC (opens in a new tab)Source: BEAC, foreign exchange regulations page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Find finance
Regional development bank
BDEAC
Banque de Développement des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale
Regional body
Finances projects and takes equity stakes in its member states in Central Africa.
Visit BDEAC (opens in a new tab)Source: BDEAC, home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Meet requirements
Regional intellectual property office
OAPI
Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle
Regional body
Registers trademarks, patents and industrial designs valid in its 17 member states, including the Central African Republic.
Visit OAPI (opens in a new tab)Source: OAPI, home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Customs authority
DGDDI
Direction Générale des Douanes et des Droits Indirects
Runs the edouanes portal, where companies file declarations and look up the customs tariff.
Visit DGDDI (opens in a new tab)Source: Customs, edouanes portal home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Meet requirements
Finance and tax ministry
MFB
Ministère des Finances et du Budget
Oversees the customs and tax directorates and publishes finance laws, tax exemption lists and public debt bulletins.
Visit MFB (opens in a new tab)Source: Finance ministry, customs and tax directorates page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 1 more organization
Regional community commission
CEMAC Commission
Commission de la CEMAC
Regional body
Publishes the CEMAC Customs Code and community texts for trade among its six member states.
Visit CEMAC Commission (opens in a new tab)Source: CEMAC Commission, home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Chamber of commerce
CCIMA
Chambre de Commerce, d'Industrie, des Mines et de l'Artisanat
Prepares the professional trader's card with the trade ministry and runs a business formalities center.
Visit CCIMA (opens in a new tab)Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review, Central African Republic annex, 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 16, 2023
- Get advice
Private sector employers' association
GICA
Groupement Interprofessionnel de Centrafrique
Backed the practical guide to business laws produced by the joint public-private business climate forum.
Visit GICA (opens in a new tab)Source: Finance ministry, practical guide for businesses, 2020 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of September 8, 2020
5. Worth knowing
Logistics and border performance
As of 2020, per the WTO review, about 80 percent of officially imported goods by value passed through the port of Douala and along a 1,500 kilometer road to Bangui.
What to do: Confirm the current corridor conditions with your freight forwarder before you promise delivery dates.
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review, Central African Republic annex, 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Public debt and arrears
Public debt including arrears was 62.21 percent of GDP at the end of September 2026, under the CEMAC limit of 70 percent.
What to do: Ask public counterparties about payment timing before you sign a contract.
Source: Finance ministry, public debt bulletin, third quarter 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Electricity
The World Bank names fuel shortages and high energy costs among the risks to growth in its September 2025 update.
What to do: Budget for backup power and confirm the supply with your site operator.
Source: World Bank, Central African Republic Economic Update, September 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Security and access
The World Bank named fragile security among the risks to growth in its September 2025 economic update.
What to do: Check the current travel advice for each site before you travel.
Source: World Bank, Central African Republic Economic Update, September 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 2 more
Foreign trading authorization
The Commercial Code requires a foreigner to get prior authorization to trade, unless Central African nationals hold at least 51 percent and the company's seat is in the country.
What to do: Confirm with the trade ministry which authorization applies to your project.
Source: Central African Republic, Commercial Code, December 2016 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Charter approval
The Investment Charter benefits need approval from the trade minister, after a technical opinion, and the request must come before operations start.
What to do: Apply for approval before you begin production or trading.
Source: Central African Republic, Investment Charter, June 2018 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
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- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
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Promote:Central African Republic is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 30, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.