flag Djibouti Djibouti: Investing

FDI in Figures

According to UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2023, FDI flows to Djibouti amounted to USD 191 million in 2022, up from USD 168 million one year earlier. Excluding direct investment in port entities, direct investment in Djibouti is concentrated in real estate, industry, and services (IMF). The main investors are the Gulf countries, Ethiopia, China, Mauritius, the United States, France, Brazil, India, and Turkey. As a member of COMESA willing to attract more FDI, Djibouti aims specifically at building closer ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council and India. The government is gradually opening public-sector entities, including state-owned utilities, to private investment. The privatization of a minority stake in Djibouti Telecom, the monopoly telecommunications SOE, was announced in 2022, but no progress has been made so far.

In terms of the business climate, Djibouti has recorded progress in recent years. The country has undertaken many reforms, including creating a one-stop shop for business start-up; making property transfer easier and more transparent; strengthening access to credit; strengthening minority investor protections; making enforcing contracts easier by establishing a dedicated division within the court of first instance to resolve commercial cases and by adopting a new Code of Civil Procedure; and making resolving insolvency easier. Both foreign and domestic private entities enjoy equal rights to establish and own business enterprises and participate in all forms of remunerative activity. Additionally, foreign investors are not obligated by law to have a local partner, except in the insurance industry, where it's required only for companies registered locally, not as branches of existing foreign companies. However, some foreign firms opt for a local partner to facilitate navigating local bureaucracy and cultural nuances. Notably, there is no formal screening process for foreign direct investment (FDI). The country's main attractive feature for investment is its strategic geographical location, situated at the maritime crossroads between the Far East, the Persian Gulf, Africa, and Europe, which makes its deep-water port facilities and railway key assets. Moreover, Djibouti has a stable currency, which is freely convertible and pegged to the U.S. dollar. Furthermore, the government, which is implementing an ambitious infrastructure program, offers significant tax reductions to foreign investors. The redevelopment of the historic port into a business center and the further development of the Damerjog port industrial free zone, with the construction of a new oil jetty, are expected to boost investments (Coface). Other major projects include the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway, the construction of a drinking water pipeline with Ethiopia, as well as airports, a wind farm, a solar power plant (with Germany), and a geothermal power plant (with China). Among factors impeding FDI flows are mediocre governance, corruption, the lack of a sound judicial framework, an unstable regional geopolitical situation, a poorly diversified economy with little resilience to outside shocks, and a fragile ecosystem prone to environmental crises. The National Investment Promotion Agency (NIPA) of Djibouti, established in 2001, is tasked with promoting private-sector investment, facilitating investment operations, and modernizing the country’s regulatory framework. Djibouti ranks 132nd among the 180 economies on the 2023 Corruption Perception Index and 105th out of 184 countries on the latest Index of Economic Freedom.

 

Country Comparison For the Protection of Investors

  Djibouti Middle East & North Africa United States Germany
Index of Transaction Transparency* 8.0 6.4 7.0 5.0
Index of Manager’s Responsibility** 8.0 4.8 9.0 5.0
Index of Shareholders’ Power*** 10.0 4.7 9.0 5.0

Source: Doing Business - Latest available data.

Note: *The Greater the Index, the More Transparent the Conditions of Transactions. **The Greater the Index, the More the Manager is Personally Responsible. *** The Greater the Index, the Easier it Will Be For Shareholders to Take Legal Action.

 
Foreign Direct Investment 202020212022
FDI Inward Flow (million USD) 158168191
Number of Greenfield Investments* 2.01.02.0
Value of Greenfield Investments (million USD) 11562,469

Source: UNCTAD - Latest available data

Note: * Greenfield Investments are a form of Foreign Direct Investment where a parent company starts a new venture in a foreign country by constructing new operational facilities from the ground up.

 

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Tax Rates

Value Added Tax (VAT) - Taxe sur la Valeur ajoutée (Local name)
10% (standard rate).
Exports and international transport transactions are zero-rated.
Company Tax
25%
Withholding Taxes
Dividends: 0%; Interest: 15%; Royalties: 25% (residents)/15% (non-residents)
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers
15.7% (5.5% for the family allowance, 6.2% for health and professional injuries, 4% for retirement pension and 2% for mandatory health insurance).
Other Domestic Resources
Finance Minister of Djibouti
Overview of Djibouti's tax measures in response to Covid-19
Consult Doing Business Website, to obtain a summary of the taxes and mandatory contributions.
 
 

Individual Taxes

Taxes on earnings and Salaries (ITS) Progressive rate from 2% to 30%
From DJF 0 to 30,000 2%
From DJF 30,001 to 50,000 12%
From DJF 50,001 to 150,000 15%
From DJF 150.001 to 600,000 20%
From DJF 600,000 to 1,000,000 30%
From DJF 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 35%
Over DJF 2,000,000 40%
 
 

Country Comparison For Corporate Taxation

  Djibouti Middle East & North Africa United States Germany
Number of Payments of Taxes per Year 35.0 20.8 10.6 9.0
Time Taken For Administrative Formalities (Hours) 76.0 204.0 175.0 218.0
Total Share of Taxes (% of Profit) 37.9 32.1 36.6 48.8

Source: Doing Business - Latest available data.

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Investment Opportunities

Tenders, Projects and Public Procurement
Fontier Market Network, Tenders in Africa
African Tenders
DgMarket, Tenders Worldwide
Setting Up a Company
Consult Doing Business Website, to know about procedures to start a Business in Djibouti.
Useful Resources
National Investment Promotion Agency
Economic Developments and Prospects in Djibouti - African Economic Outlook
Contact the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce in the United Kingdom.
Contact the Embassy of Djibouti in the United Kingdom.
 

Business Setup Procedures

Setting Up a Company Djibouti Middle East & North Africa
Procedures (number) 6.00 6.28
Time (days) 14.00 19.51

Source: Doing Business.

 
 
 

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Latest Update: May 2024