Dear Joel 1357,
As you can see from the list bellow, very few countries )actually,
acording to my check, only Ethiopia requests that as a rule) request
an agent by law, but it is highly recommended to have one in many
others.
Note: No means that no official legal request for an agent. However,
not that it is recommended in most sub-saharan Africa countries to
have an agent familiar with the culture and local languages; and that
even if no agent is required, that usually doesn't apply to oil
production and similar businesses.
Algeria - No (1993 Law) -
http://www.usatrade.gov/website/ccg.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-ALGERIA1998-CH-IV-006FCA5F
Angola - No ("A U.S. company may market directly through an
established importer in Angola, by winning a tender, through
investment, or by opening an office in Angola."), but "Subsidiary or
affiliate companies of U.S. organizations operate in several areas
including computers/office equipment, petroleum products, and
agro-industry. Finding partners or agents and distributors for U.S.
products is possible, though financial arrangements can be
problematic". Source:
http://www.usatrade.gov/website/ccg.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-ANGOLA1999-CH-IV-0072C835
Benin - No, but one should consult with a Beninese lawyer before
opening a buisness -
http://www.usatrade.gov/Website/CCG.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-BENIN2001-CH-4:-00629B28
Botswana - No. The government has "Agent/Distributor Service (ADS)"
that assist investors find an agent.
http://www.usatrade.gov/website/ccg.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-BOTSWANA2002-CH-4:-005CDC9C
Burkina Faso - "THERE IS NO LAW IN BURKINA FASO REQUIRING RETENTION OF
AN AGENT/DISTRIBUTOR, BUT THIS IS ADVISABLE."
http://www.usatrade.gov/Website/CCG.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-BURKINA_FASO1998-CH-IV-005AC2DF
Cameroon - different laws in different parts of the country, but
basically ".S. businesses planning to enter the Cameroonian market
should find a local agent who sells directly to wholesalers and can
help new firms obtain market knowledge at low cost. For products
requiring after-sales service and spare parts, the appointment of a
distributor is recommended. Agents and distributors must register with
the Government, and their contracts must be notarized and published in
the local press." - http://www.usatrade.gov/Website/CCG.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-CAMEROON2001-CH-4:-00662341
Cape Verde (Cabo Verde) - Not necessarily, but highly recommended
because of the underdeveloped form of the market -
http://www.usatrade.gov/Website/CCG.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-CAPE_VERDE2001-CH-4:-0047B002
Central African Republic (Bangui) - No.
http://www.usatrade.gov/Website/CCG.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-C.A.R.2001-CH-5:-005F617A
Chad - No, but highly recommended -
http://www.usatrade.gov/website/ccg.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-CHAD2002-CH-4:-00432927
Congo, Democratic Republic of the - No, but highly recommended
http://www.usatrade.gov/website/ccg.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-CONGO-DEM_REP2001-CH-4:-005AE865
Cote d'Ivoire - No (http://www.usatrade.gov/Website/CCG.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-COTE_D'IVOIRE2002-CH-4:-00475F90)
Egypt - Only on government tenders: "Egyptian commercial agents are
required for foreign firm bids on most civilian government tenders."
http://www.usatrade.gov/Website/CCG.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-EGYPT2002-CH-4:-002735C0
Equatorial Guinea - No.
http://www.usatrade.gov/Website/CCG.nsf/ShowCCG?OpenForm&Country=EQ.+GUINEA
Eritrea - No. http://www.usatrade.gov/Website/CCG.nsf/ShowCCG?OpenForm&Country=ERITREA
*Ethiopia - Yes - "Ethiopia requires that all imports be channeled
through Ethiopian nationals registered with the government as official
import or distribution agents." -
http://www.usatrade.gov/website/ccg.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-ETHIOPIA2001-CH-4:-006328F5
Gabon - No, but recommended
http://www.usatrade.gov/Website/CCG.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-GABON1999-CH-IV-006B3309
Ghana - No, but "strongly advised"
http://www.usatrade.gov/Website/CCG.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-GHANA2002-CH-4:-0048DAE0
Guinea - direct marketing is permitted.
http://www.usatrade.gov/Website/CCG.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-GUINEA2002-CH-4:-006371EA
Kenya - No, but advisable
http://www.usatrade.gov/website/ccg.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-KENYA2002-CH-4:-004CCF96
Lesotho - No, see http://www.lesotho.gov.ls/lseconomy.htm
Liberia - A lawyer is highly recommended.
http://www.usatrade.gov/Website/CCG.nsf/ShowCCG?OpenForm&Country=LIBERIA
Libya - No trade with the US. (see your other question)
Madagascar - No, but highly recommended -
http://www.usatrade.gov/Website/CCG.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-MADAGASCAR2001-CH-4:-0069CF2A
Malawi - No, http://www.usatrade.gov/Website/CCG.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-MALAWI2001-CH-4:-00456B3A
Mali - *Yes* direct marketing is NOT feasible (but however its seems
legal). http://www.usatrade.gov/Website/CCG.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-MALI1999-CH-IV-006CDA20
Mauritania - No. http://www.usatrade.gov/website/ccg.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-MAURITANIA2001-CH-4:-0044E65C
Morocco - No. http://www.usatrade.gov/website/ccg.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-MOROCCO2002-CH-4:-0068F324
Mozambique - No. http://www.usatrade.gov/website/ccg.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-MOZAMBIQUE2001-CH-4:-00589A0D
Namibia - No. However, the Namibia National Chamber Commerce and
Industry (NCCI) and its affiliated chambers, offer services to foreign
investors in need of agents, distributors and joint-venture partners.
http://www.usatrade.gov/website/ccg.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-NAMIBIA2001-CH-4:-0056329E
Niger - You must obtain a business certificate from the Ministry of
Commerce, but an agent is not necessary it is recommended though) -
http://www.usatrade.gov/Website/CCG.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-NIGER2001-CH-4:-0051DDA9
Nigeria - No. http://www.usatrade.gov/Website/CCG.nsf/ShowCCG?OpenForm&Country=NIGERIA
Senegal - No., http://www.usatrade.gov/website/ccg.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-SENEGAL2002-CH-4:-0040061B
South Africa - no. see
http://www.usatrade.gov/website/ccg.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-SOUTH_AFRICA2002-CH-4:-004460EC
Sudan - no trade with US
Swaziland - No, http://www.usatrade.gov/website/ccg.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-SWAZILAND1998-CH-IV-006D595B
Tanzania - No., http://www.usatrade.gov/website/ccg.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-TANZANIA2002-CH-4:-004FAF5E
Togo - No, http://www.usatrade.gov/website/ccg.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-TOGO2001-CH-4:-00642EDF
Tunisia - No, http://www.usatrade.gov/website/ccg.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-TUNISIA2002-CH-4:-004840EF
Uganda - No, http://www.usatrade.gov/website/ccg.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-UGANDA2000-CH-IV-006DEEEC
Zambia - No, http://www.usatrade.gov/Website/CCG.nsf/ShowCCG?OpenForm&Country=ZAMBIA
Zimbabwe - No, http://www.usatrade.gov/website/ccg.nsf/CCGurl/CCG-ZIMBABWE2002-CH-4:-0042E7E3
I also recommend you'll check out this article on African Business
Scams:
http://www.political-tips.com/TipNL.asp?Tipid=52542
I hope that helps. Please contact me for any further informtaion. |
