Promote:
Invest in Mali
A short guide for companies expanding into Mali: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Mali at a glance
Population
25.2 million
Population was 25,198,821 people in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Mali population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$30.1 billion
GDP was US$30.1 billion in 2025, in current United States dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, Mali GDP, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per person
US$1,193
GDP per person was US$1,193 in 2025, in current United States dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, Mali GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growth
5.6%
Real GDP growth was 5.6 percent in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Mali real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
3.4%
Consumer prices rose 3.4 percent over twelve months to September 2026, in the statistics office's harmonized price index.
Source: INSTAT, harmonized consumer price index, September 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of September 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$843.7 million
Foreign direct investment inflows were US$843.7 million in 2025.
Source: UNCTADstat, foreign direct investment flows and stock (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the CFA franc (XOF), shared by the member states of the West African Economic and Monetary Union.
Source: BCEAO, West African union economic note, September 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 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.
API-Mali is the investment promotion agency, and the industry and trade minister inaugurated its regional antenna during a visit to Sikasso on August 27 to 29, 2026.
Source: Council of Ministers communiqué, September 2, 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of September 2, 2026
API-Mali runs a one-stop shop where a new business can request its tax identification number and collect the card.
Source: DGI Mali, tax identification number steps (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
The Investment Code names no reserved sectors and lets foreign investors hold up to 100 percent of a company, subject to rules for regulated sectors.
Source: Mali Investment Code, Law 2012-016 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of February 27, 2012
Mali's Code lets decrees designate special economic zones, and no official list or count of zones was found.
Source: Mali Investment Code, Law 2012-016 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of February 27, 2012
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in Mali
- Prepare the company statutes with a notary and register the company with the commercial court, or ask API-Mali how its one-stop shop handles business creation.Agence pour la Promotion des Investissements au Mali (API-Mali)Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: DGI Mali, tax identification number steps (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Get a tax identification number free of charge from your tax center or the API-Mali one-stop shop, by filing a declaration of existence in the month activity starts.Direction Générale des Impôts du MaliFree; card ready 48 hours after the requestOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: DGI Mali, tax identification number steps (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Ask API-Mali how to apply for approval under the Investment Code regimes A to D, which depend on investment size; work must start within three years of approval.Agence pour la Promotion des Investissements au Mali (API-Mali)Work must start within three years; one extension of up to two yearsOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Mali Investment Code, Law 2012-016 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of February 27, 2012
- For a mining project, follow the 2023 Mining Code, under which the state takes a share, and ask the mines ministry about licenses and the state holding company.Ministère des MinesOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Council of Ministers communiqué, February 6, 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of February 6, 2026
Show 1 more set-up step
- Send profits and wages abroad through an approved intermediary, and declare capital transactions such as share sales to the finance ministry.Ministère de l'Économie et des FinancesOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Mali Investment Code, Law 2012-016 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of February 27, 2012
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with API-Mali and DGD. 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
API-Mali
Agence pour la Promotion des Investissements au Mali
Takes tax-number requests for new businesses at its one-stop shop and hands over the cards.
Visit API-Mali (opens in a new tab)Source: DGI Mali, tax identification number steps (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Customs authority
DGD
Direction Générale des Douanes
Handles customs matters as the customs directorate of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Visit DGD (opens in a new tab)Source: Finance ministry of Mali, services list (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Tax authority
DGI
Direction Générale des Impôts du Mali
Issues the tax identification number free of charge, with the card ready 48 hours after the request.
Visit DGI (opens in a new tab)Source: DGI Mali, tax identification number steps (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 2 more organizations
Finance ministry
MEF
Ministère de l'Économie et des Finances
Publishes finance laws and price lists, and houses the tax, customs and treasury directorates.
Visit MEF (opens in a new tab)Source: Finance ministry of Mali, services list (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Regional central bank
BCEAO
Banque Centrale des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest
Regional body
Sets the export domiciliation and repatriation rules that apply to Malian exporters.
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Chamber of commerce
CCIM
Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie du Mali
Runs commercial promotion, business creation support, training and arbitration for Malian companies.
Visit CCIM (opens in a new tab)Source: CCIM, presentation page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Get advice
Employers' federation
CNPM
Conseil National du Patronat du Mali
Represents businesses of every size through its member groupings and studies matters of common business interest.
Visit CNPM (opens in a new tab)Source: CNPM, presentation page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 2 more organizations
Arbitration and conciliation center
CECAM
Centre de conciliation et d'arbitrage du Mali
Offers national and international conciliation and arbitration for commercial disputes, within the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Visit CECAM (opens in a new tab)Source: CCIM, presentation page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Business training institute
INCEF
Institut consulaire d'études et de formation
Offers degree courses, trade training and capacity-building courses, as the training arm of the Chamber of Commerce.
Visit INCEF (opens in a new tab)Source: INCEF, training institute of the CCIM (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Gold concentration
Gold was 73.1 percent of 2024 exports in UN Comtrade, and the Council adopted texts for a precious substances office in March 2026.
What to do: Compare your product with the other lines in the list, and read the destination caveat before you quote shares.
Sources: UN Comtrade, Mali exports by destination, 2024 (opens in a new tab); Council of Ministers communiqué, March 18, 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Logistics and border performance
The British government advises against all travel to Mali and reports blockades on key routes, and the Council created a state transport company in September 2026.
What to do: Confirm routes, insurance and delivery terms with your carrier before each shipment.
Sources: FCDO, Mali travel advice, July 2026 (opens in a new tab); Council of Ministers communiqué, September 25, 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of July 10, 2026
Regional trade rules in transition
Mali left ECOWAS on January 29, 2025, and talks between the Alliance of Sahel States and ECOWAS opened on October 23, 2026.
What to do: Confirm with the importing customs office how it treats Malian goods before you claim a regional preference.
Sources: ECOWAS Commission, withdrawal statement, January 29, 2025 (opens in a new tab); Council of Ministers communiqué, October 23, 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 23, 2026
State stake in mining
The 2023 Mining Code raised the state share in mining companies, and the Council created a state holding company, SOPAMIM, in February 2026.
What to do: Read the 2023 Mining Code and ask the mines ministry how the state share applies to your project.
Source: Council of Ministers communiqué, February 6, 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of February 6, 2026
Show 2 more
Cotton processing
Mali produces 656,000 tonnes of cotton a year and exports 98 percent raw; the Council created the Société des Textiles du Mali in July 2026.
What to do: Ask the trade ministry whether the new textile company changes how cotton fiber is sold before you commit to purchases.
Sources: Council of Ministers communiqué, July 29, 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab); UN Comtrade, Mali exports by destination, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of July 29, 2026
Tax measures in flux
Mali's 2026 Finance Law is Law 2025-056 of December 18, 2025, and the Council adopted a bill amending it on July 3, 2026.
What to do: Check the current text of the 2026 Finance Law with the tax directorate before you price a project.
Sources: Council of Ministers communiqué, July 3, 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab); Finance ministry of Mali, finance laws page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of July 3, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare Mali with other countriesSet Mali 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 Mali project.
Use Promote:Global to explore markets, understand requirements and organize your next steps.
Promote:Mali 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.