Promote:
Invest in Djibouti
A short guide for companies expanding into Djibouti: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Djibouti at a glance
Population
1.18 million
Population was 1,184,076 people in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Djibouti population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$4.62 billion
GDP was US$4.62 billion in 2025, in current United States dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, Djibouti GDP, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per person
US$3,906
GDP per person was US$3,906 in 2025, in current United States dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, Djibouti GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growth
6.5%
Real GDP growth was 6.5 percent in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Djibouti real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
1.9%
Consumer prices rose 1.9 percent in the twelve months to August 2026, by INSTAD's consumer price index.
Source: INSTAD, consumer price index bulletin, August 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of August 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$149 million
Foreign direct investment inflows were US$149.0 million in 2025.
Source: UNCTADstat, foreign direct investment flows, Djibouti (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the Djibouti franc (DJF).
Source: Central Bank of Djibouti, the currency board (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.
The Agence Nationale pour la Promotion des Investissements, ANPI, promotes investment and sits under the ministry for investment and private sector development.
Source: Djibouti Decree 2026-105, duties of the ministries (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of May 31, 2026
As of 2022, per the WTO review, ANPI runs the single window for investors, which hosts 16 public and semi-public institutions.
Source: WTO Trade Policy Review of Djibouti, report WT/TPR/S/430, 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 7, 2022
As of 2022, per the WTO review, foreign investment is open except maritime and transit, fisheries, retail trade, telecommunications, electricity, water, mail and salt, which are reserved for nationals.
Source: WTO Trade Policy Review of Djibouti, report WT/TPR/S/430, 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 7, 2022
DPFZA's website lists three free trade zones: Djibouti International, Djibouti Free Zone and Damerjog Industrial Development.
Source: DPFZA, home page and free trade zones menu (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 Djibouti
- Register the company through the single window, where the commerce register is kept by ODPIC.Office Djiboutien de la Propriété Industrielle et CommercialeRegister within one month of creating the companyOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ODPIC, commerce and companies register (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Register with the tax administration to get a tax identification number and the trade license.Direction Générale des ImpôtsOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO Trade Policy Review of Djibouti, report WT/TPR/S/430, 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 7, 2022
- Apply for Investment Code benefits (Regime A or B), or for a free zone license if the project sits in a free zone.Agence Nationale pour la Promotion des InvestissementsOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO Trade Policy Review of Djibouti, report WT/TPR/S/430, 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 7, 2022
- For freight forwarding, shipping agency, stevedoring or ship supply, get an operating permit from DPFZA; forwarders must be Djiboutian-owned.Djibouti Ports and Free Zones AuthorityDJF 15,000,000 deposit and DJF 30,000,000 working capital for forwardersOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: DPFZA, maritime transport accreditation (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 2 more set-up steps
- In a free zone, ask DPFZA for visas and work permits through its one stop shop.Djibouti Ports and Free Zones AuthorityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: DPFZA, free zone licensing and registration (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Register property transfers in the land register; foreigners cannot buy farmland but can be granted it for 99 years.Direction Générale des Domaines et de la Conservation FoncièreOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO Trade Policy Review of Djibouti, report WT/TPR/S/430, 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 7, 2022
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with ANPI. 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
Investment promotion agency
ANPI
Agence Nationale pour la Promotion des Investissements
Promotes investment and, as of 2022 per the WTO review, ran the single window where company formalities are completed in one place.
Visit ANPI (opens in a new tab)Source: WTO Trade Policy Review of Djibouti, report WT/TPR/S/430, 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 7, 2022
- Get advice
Investment promotion ministry
Investment Ministry
Ministère Délégué chargé des Investissements et du Développement du Secteur Privé
Runs business climate and investment promotion policy, handles the special benefits investors ask for, and oversees the investment promotion agency.
Show 5 more organizations
- Meet requirements
Business register and IP office
ODPIC
Office Djiboutien de la Propriété Industrielle et Commerciale
Keeps the commerce and companies register, registers trademarks and patents, and staffs the company creation single window.
Visit ODPIC (opens in a new tab)Source: ODPIC, about the office (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Get advice
Ports and free zones authority
DPFZA
Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority
Regulates ports and free zones, licenses free zone companies and is their single contact point with other agencies.
Visit DPFZA (opens in a new tab)Source: DPFZA, free zone licensing and registration (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Meet requirements
Central bank
Central Bank of Djibouti
Banque Centrale de Djibouti
Runs the currency board that fixes the Djibouti franc to the United States dollar and publishes balance of payments statistics.
Visit Central Bank of Djibouti (opens in a new tab)Source: Central Bank of Djibouti, the currency board (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Get advice
Economy, finance and industry ministry
Economy Ministry
Ministère de l'Economie, des Finances, chargé de l'Industrie
Sets economic and industrial policy, including special economic zone rules, and supervises the statistics office and the development fund.
- Find finance
Development finance fund
Development Fund
Fonds de Développement de Djibouti
Finances small and medium projects in agriculture, livestock, fishing, tourism, services and light industry, as the WTO review describes it.
Visit Development Fund (opens in a new tab)Source: WTO Trade Policy Review of Djibouti, report WT/TPR/S/430, 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 7, 2022
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Customs authority
Djibouti Customs
Direction Générale des Douanes et Droits Indirects
Runs customs procedures under the Customs Code, including declarations in the electronic customs system.
Visit Djibouti Customs (opens in a new tab)Source: Djibouti Official Journal, 2026 finance law (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of December 31, 2025
- Meet requirements
Budget, tax and customs ministry
Budget Ministry
Ministère du Budget
Runs budget, customs and tax policy, collects revenue, and keeps the land registry and cadastre.
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Chamber of commerce
Chamber of Commerce
Chambre de Commerce de Djibouti
Issues certificates of origin for trade agreements other than COMESA and speaks for exporters such as salt producers.
Visit Chamber of Commerce (opens in a new tab)Source: WTO Trade Policy Review of Djibouti, report WT/TPR/S/430, 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 7, 2022
5. Worth knowing
Re-exports dominate trade
INSTAD's customs-regime table puts re-exports at 97.3 percent of Djibouti's exports in January to August 2026.
What to do: Ask the seller whether a product is made in Djibouti before you treat Comtrade export figures as local supply.
Sources: INSTAD, monthly foreign trade bulletin, August 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab); Central Bank of Djibouti, annual report 2024 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Export bans and fees
As of 2022, wood and coral exports are banned and livestock exports need a sanitary certificate; Lake Assal salt and bromide exports pay a royalty since 2024.
What to do: Confirm the current bans and fees with customs and the veterinary services before you quote a price.
Sources: WTO Trade Policy Review of Djibouti, report WT/TPR/S/430, 2022 (opens in a new tab); Djibouti Official Journal, 2024 finance law (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Currency and settlement
Since January 1, 2026, a 0.2 percent tax is withheld on outgoing international transfers, capped at DJF 17,721 per transfer except between accounts at one bank.
What to do: Ask your bank whether the tax applies to your payments abroad before you agree contract terms.
Sources: Djibouti Official Journal, 2025 amending finance law (in French) (opens in a new tab); Djibouti Official Journal, transfer tax order 2026-087 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Reserved sectors
As of 2022, maritime and transit, fisheries, retail trade, telecommunications, electricity, water, mail and salt are reserved for nationals.
What to do: Check the current list with the investment ministry before you start a project in these sectors.
Source: WTO Trade Policy Review of Djibouti, report WT/TPR/S/430, 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 7, 2022
Show 3 more
Local hiring in free zones
Under the Free Zone Code, free zone companies must reach 30 percent Djiboutian staff in year one and 70 percent after five years.
What to do: Schedule hiring to meet the staffing shares before you sign a lease in a free zone.
Sources: Djibouti Official Journal, Free Zone Code, 2004 (in French) (opens in a new tab); DPFZA, free zone licensing and registration (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Dollar peg
The Djibouti franc is fixed to the United States dollar under a currency board, and the WTO notes no exchange controls.
What to do: Price long contracts knowing the rate is fixed, and confirm payment rules with your bank.
Sources: Central Bank of Djibouti, the currency board (in French) (opens in a new tab); WTO Trade Policy Review of Djibouti, report WT/TPR/S/430, 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Free zones sell mainly services
As of 2022, about 99 percent of free zone activity is services, and the only manufacturing is assembly, says the WTO review.
What to do: Check that a free zone has the factory space and utilities your project needs before you commit.
Source: WTO Trade Policy Review of Djibouti, report WT/TPR/S/430, 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 7, 2022
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare Djibouti with other countriesSet Djibouti 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.
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Promote:Djibouti 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 31, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.