Learn about barriers to market entry and local requirements, i.e., things to be aware of when entering the market for this country.
Last Published: 7/1/2019

Government bureaucracy and pervasive corruption severely hamper economic development in Guinea.  In its 2018 “Ease of Doing Business” index, the World Bank ranked Guinea 152nd of 190 countries worldwide, which is up one place from 2017. However, according to Transparency International’s 2018 “Corruption Perception Index,” Guinea moved up ten places to 138 out of 180 countries listed.

Guinea also faces inadequate infrastructure, an inefficient bureaucracy, a lack of skilled workers, and political uncertainty.

Guinea lacks the infrastructure necessary to support advanced commercial activities, but conditions are improving.  Access to electricity has vastly improved throughout the capital city of Conakry since the completion of Kaleta Dam in the summer of 2015, but power outages are common during the dry season (February – May). Access to piped water in the capital is intermittent, and largely unsafe for consumption. In the interior of the country, access to electricity and water is largely unavailable. Transportation infrastructure, including roads, railroads, and the port system, is unevenly developed throughout the country, though the government of Guinea has targeted infrastructure improvement as a high priority for the coming years.  The road networks in certain areas, such as the outskirts of Conakry, between Dabola and Kankan, and Beyla to N’Zerekore, have improved with resources from either international donors or corporate partners in the mining sector.  Telecommunication operating costs remain high and service is slow and subject to “black outs” due to lack of equipment.  The ongoing installation of fiber optic networks is improving internet connectivity, though connections lag behind U.S. standards.

There is a risk of political violence.  While Guinea has never been afflicted by a civil war, street protests have caused isolated looting and violence, particularly in Conakry.  These types of demonstrations have steadily decreased in severity since the 2010 democratic transition, though this may change due to possible elections in 2019 and 2020.  The opposition and disaffected citizens took to the streets several times in 2017-2018 during the lead-up to local elections and after the vote, but most of the protests were contained. In July 2018, the government-mandated a 25-percent increase in the price of gasoline that led to widespread protests in Conakry.  In an effort to avoid more destabilizing public demonstrations, the government deployed joint military and police patrols along the main protest routes in Conakry in the last quarter of 2018.  This has resulted in a corresponding reduction of street protests to negligible levels.  With pending elections for the Naitonal Assembly (2019) and President (2020), the risk of civil unrest remains very real, but as of publication of this document, Conakry remains calm, but with an edge of anticipation.
 

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