Niger is located in the Western part of Africa and is also the largest country in West Africa. Niger has a population of 23.3 million people. The economic and political center is Niamey, with a population of just over 1 million.
Business opportunities in Niger are numerous, and the industries in which growth is announced are agriculture, transport and logistics, and the field of tourism. Niger's GDP has been growing steadily since 2015, with an expected 6.9% growth in 2021.
Niger's current GDP growth is 7.2% (2022) and is projected to grow 7.0% in 2023 and 11.8% in 2024. The country's ever-growing economy and consistent support for business development make it a great place to set up a sole proprietorship.
Disclaimer: Be aware that this article is not a substitute for legal advice. Please always check official websites or seek legal advice before you take action.
The sole proprietorship registration process
The sole proprietorship registration process in Niger is quite straightforward and requires a few steps. Keep in mind all the information and submission is done in French, so unless you're familiar with the language, have someone help you out.
Open a bank account
Before going forward with the registration process, you should open a dedicated bank account and place a deposit in it. The deposit s defined by the company law of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa.
Obtain the Deed of incorporation and business registration
You can obtain the Deed of incorporation at the One-stop-shop
Center for Business Formalities, at the House of Enterprise. Business registration can be done at the same place. It is necessary to submit a request for notice of company registration to the Commercial Register Registre du Commerce et du Crédit Mobilier - RCCM. The notice of company incorporation can alternatively be published in the official newspaper (Journal d'annonces légales). The total registration fee is XOF 17,500.
Taxation system in Niger
VAT in Niger
Value Added Tax (VAT) in Nigeria is the same for all products and services, and its rate is 19%.
Tax Identification Number
Every business in Niger must have its own Tax Identification Number (TIN), locally called Numéro d'Identification Fiscale - NIF. The process of obtaining a TIN with all the necessary forms can be found on the official website.
On the same link is a price list for obtaining all the necessary documents. Import and export taxes vary from 6-66%, depending on the goods and whether the export country is part of the West African Economic and Monetary Union.
