Identifies common practices to be aware of when selling in this market, e.g., whether all sales material need to be in the local language.
Last Published: 7/2/2019

Guinea is approximately 85 percent Muslim, and Islam plays a significant role in shaping the customs and habits of the local business culture.  Though Guinean culture is very tolerant of other religions, U.S. businesspeople should be familiar with the basic tenets of Islam to help facilitate their transactions.  The country’s official language is French, though many major traders are not fluent, and prefer to use local languages such as Fula (known in French as Peuhl), Malinke, and Susu.  According to UNESCO, the rate of literacy in Guinea among those aged 15 or older stood at 30.4 percent in 2015.  Few Guineans use English in business discussions and even less so outside of Conakry.  Friendship and trust are extremely important in Guinean culture. It takes time to build a successful working relationship in Guinea.  Effort, patience, and face-to-face contact are required to bring business transactions to fruition.

It is also important to understand the political environment in which Guinea is currently operating.  Financial investment is centralized around the Office of the President.  Processes and decisions directed by the government can be variable and inconsistent.  The government has pledged to address these issues and to make discussions and contractual negotiations more transparent and spread out among relevant ministries, but progress toward transparency, although improving, has been slow.
 

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