Promote:
Invest in Chad
A short guide for companies expanding into Chad: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Chad at a glance
PopulationEstimate
21 million
Chad had 21,003,705 people in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Chad population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDPEstimate
US$21.5 billion
GDP was US$21.47 billion in 2025, in current dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, Chad GDP, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per personEstimate
US$1,022
GDP per person was US$1,022 in 2025, in current dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, Chad GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growthEstimate
5.6%
Real GDP growth was 5.6 percent in 2025, the World Bank reports.
Source: World Bank WDI, Chad real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
−2.0%
Consumer prices fell 2.0 percent over twelve months to August 2026, across eight cities, INSEED reports.
Source: INSEED, consumer price bulletin, August 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of August 2026
Foreign direct investment inflowsNeeds confirmation
US$4.3 million
Inward direct investment was US$4.296 million in 2025, UNCTADstat reports; the stock was US$9,344.827 million.
Source: UNCTADstat, Chad inward direct investment, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the Central African CFA franc.
Source: BEAC, Chad country page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
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.
ANIE, the National Agency for Investments and Exports, is Chad's investment promotion agency and also promotes exports.
Source: ANIE, about the agency (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
ANIE runs the one-stop shop for company creation, with an official time of 72 hours after a complete file.
Source: ANIE, investor guide for Chad, October 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
The Investment Charter sets no list of sectors reserved for nationals; private investment is free, subject to health, safety and environment rules.
Source: WIPO Lex, Chad Investment Charter, Law 006/PR/2008 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of January 3, 2008
Three special economic zones were created by decree on March 3, 2023, as ANIE's investor guide lists them.
Source: ANIE, investor guide for Chad, October 2026 (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 Chad
- Reserve the company name at the court registry before you draft the statutes.Greffe du tribunal de commerceOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ANIE, investor guide for Chad, October 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Draft the statutes, have a notary sign them where the form requires, and register them with the state domains service.Service du DomaineOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ANIE, investor guide for Chad, October 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- File the complete dossier at the one-stop shop to obtain the trade register number.Agence Nationale des Investissements et des Exportations72 hours after a complete file; 73,000 CFA francs for a limited liability companyOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ANIE, investor guide for Chad, October 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Obtain the tax identification number, which the one-stop shop requests from the tax authority.Direction Générale des ImpôtsOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ANIE, investor guide for Chad, October 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 6 more set-up steps
- Register as an employer with the social security fund through the one-stop shop.Caisse Nationale de Prévoyance SocialeOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ANIE, investor guide for Chad, October 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Apply for an agreement to a Charter regime, which the industry ministry grants after the national investment commission gives its opinion.Ministère du Commerce et de l'IndustrieOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ANIE, investor guide for Chad, October 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- If you intend to locate in a special economic zone, apply to the zone authority through the zone's one-stop shop.Agence d'Administration des Zones Économiques SpécialesOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ANIE, investor guide for Chad, October 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Get the employment authorization and contract visa for foreign staff, and the entry visa and residence card they need.Office National pour la Promotion de l'EmploiPractical delay about one week for the contract visaOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ANIE, investor guide for Chad, October 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Request land through the national lands directorate, and prepare for the obligation to develop the land.Direction nationale des DomainesOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ANIE, investor guide for Chad, October 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Open the company bank account, and declare any direct investment of 10 percent or more thirty days before it is made.Banque des États de l'Afrique Centrale30 days before the investmentOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ANIE, investor guide for Chad, October 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with 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
- Get advice
Special economic zones authority
AAZES
Agence d'Administration des Zones Économiques Spéciales
Administers the special economic zones and approves companies that locate in them.
Visit AAZES (opens in a new tab)Source: ANIE, investor guide for Chad, October 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
National employment office
ONAPE
Office National pour la Promotion de l'Emploi
Authorizes the employment of foreign workers and visas work contracts before work begins.
Visit ONAPE (opens in a new tab)Source: ANIE, investor guide for Chad, October 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 2 more organizations
- Meet requirements
Immigration and visa directorate
D.E.I
Direction de l'Emigration et de l'Immigration
Issues entry e-visas through its online portal and extends visas for people already in Chad.
Visit D.E.I (opens in a new tab)Source: e-Visa Tchad, home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Business law organization
OHADA
Organisation pour l'Harmonisation en Afrique du Droit des Affaires
Regional body
Provides the uniform business law that governs company forms, security and disputes in Chad.
Visit OHADA (opens in a new tab)Source: ANIE, investor guide for Chad, October 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Customs and indirect duties authority
DGDDI
Direction Générale des Douanes et Droits Indirects
Handles customs duty exemptions on equipment and the export declaration for goods leaving Chad.
Visit DGDDI (opens in a new tab)Source: ANIE, business environment page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Meet requirements
Tax authority
DGI
Direction Générale des Impôts
Issues the tax identification number and manages tax returns for companies in Chad.
Visit DGI (opens in a new tab)Source: ANIE, business environment page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 3 more organizations
- Research markets
Regional economic community
CEEAC
Communauté Économique des États de l'Afrique Centrale
Regional body
Runs the central African common external tariff that applies from January 1, 2026.
Visit CEEAC (opens in a new tab)Source: ANIE, investor guide for Chad, October 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Meet requirements
Regional customs and monetary union
CEMAC
Communauté Économique et Monétaire de l'Afrique Centrale
Regional body
Sets the customs union rules and common exchange regulation that apply in Chad.
Visit CEMAC (opens in a new tab)Source: CEMAC Commission, home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Get advice
Shippers' council
COC-Tchad
Conseil des Chargeurs du Tchad
Issues the electronic cargo tracking note (BESC) and assists shippers on the transit corridors to the sea.
Visit COC-Tchad (opens in a new tab)Source: COC-Tchad, cargo tracking note page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
National chamber of commerce
CCIAMA
Chambre de Commerce, d'Industrie, d'Agriculture, des Mines et de l'Artisanat
Issues certificates of origin and mediates commercial disputes between companies.
Visit CCIAMA (opens in a new tab)Source: ANIE, investor guide for Chad, October 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Get advice
Employers' federation
CNPT
Conseil National du Patronat Tchadien
Speaks for private-sector companies and takes part in national economic planning.
Visit CNPT (opens in a new tab)Source: CNPT, home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Currency and settlement
Exports of 5 million CFA francs or more must be domiciled with an approved bank, and proceeds must return within 150 days, under the central African exchange regulation.
What to do: Ask your bank about domiciliation before you sign a sales contract.
Sources: CEMAC, foreign exchange regulation 02/18 (in French) (opens in a new tab); ANIE, investor guide for Chad, October 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Origin rules, new tariff
ANIE's guide says the central African common external tariff applies from January 1, 2026, and the share of local processing decides whether goods move duty-free.
What to do: Check the origin rule for your product before you claim a preference.
Source: ANIE, investor guide for Chad, October 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Oil export dependence
Crude petroleum was 85.0 percent of 2025 goods exports, and total exports fell from 1,460.0 billion CFA francs in 2024 to 1,271.0 billion, INSEED reports.
What to do: Test your project against lower oil revenue in government and buyer budgets.
Source: INSEED, foreign trade statistics 2025 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Electricity
ANIE's guide puts access to electricity at about 12 percent of the population in 2022, and says outside N'Djamena and a few capitals there is no grid to connect to.
What to do: Budget for your own power supply and backup in your cost model.
Source: ANIE, investor guide for Chad, October 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 2 more
Zone tax rules
The 2026 finance law cut exemptions in the special economic zones to 50 percent; ANIE's guide says how this fits the fifteen-year guarantee must be confirmed.
What to do: Get your terms in writing from the zone authority and the tax authority before you commit.
Source: ANIE, investor guide for Chad, October 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Land title risk
ANIE's guide says land decisions are centralized, registers are updated irregularly and informal urban land markets rest on uncertain documents.
What to do: Check the title with the national lands directorate before you pay.
Source: ANIE, investor guide for Chad, October 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare Chad with other countriesSet Chad beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your Chad project.
Use Promote:Global to explore markets, understand requirements and organize your next steps.
Promote:Chad 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.