About Chad

The Republic of Chad is a country in North-Central Africa with an estimated population of 14 million. With a diverse culture and a developing economy, Chad is an interesting country for tourists and investors alike.

Culture

Africans, Europeans, non-Europeans, Metis, all different but united in the same love for the hospitality and tradition of the country. Where the Tower of Babel is, Chad is a land of diversity: culture and folklore inherited from the ancient traditions are still alive.

Chad is a treasure trove of secret charms, outstanding natural beauty and pure and authentic folklore. Variety and complementarity, beauty and nobility, myths and traditions, are actually the characteristics that best characterize Chadian culture. It is distinguished by its wealth. The different ethnic groups that make up the national entity each have a lifestyle, tradition, folklore and crafts.

This makes the charm and uniqueness of the tourist attraction of Chadian culture and one of the richest in Africa. The handicrafts are often decorated especially for each region. Music as dance is everywhere, it is the rhythm of the cultural life of the country. Traditional ceremonies are rich in color and ritual objects, masks and statues are everywhere on these occasions.

Tourism

In particular, tourism in Chadian (potential) World Heritage sites is developing moderately. But since the end of 2010, the Chadian Tourist Office has been operational and has developed a national strategy for the development of tourism.

Currently, there are two travel agencies that organize sightseeing trips to the north, including the lakes Ounianga and Guelta Archei. About 300 to 600 tourists visit these places every year.

Tourism in Zakouma Park is more developed, tourist infrastructure is also well established and receives about 500 tourists annually.

Ecomomy

After several difficult years marked by conflict in the region, the situation in Chad has improved significantly since the restoration of peace, enabling the authorities to take important economic measures to help the country pursue macroeconomic sustainability.

The authorities’ main priority is to pursue a policy of economic diversification to promote more robust growth that creates jobs.

This policy includes: (i) oil sector development; (ii) diversifying the sources of growth to encourage the development of new subsectors in agriculture and services; (iii) promotion of the private sector; (iv) stabilization of macroeconomic and financial policies; and (v) promoting a trade policy that is beneficial to investment and export and based on regional and multilateral cooperation.

Industry

Manufacturing and processing accounted for 14% of Chad’s GDP in 2001. The country’s main industries are ginning, textiles, sugar refining, tobacco and beer brewing.

An Italian company recently opened a pharmaceutical factory in Chad. The processing of agricultural products is a sector that has grown recently.

Oil

The oil sector has the potential to change Chad’s future. The Doba oil basin is the center of construction of the oil sector and production estimates are set at 250,000 barrels per day. This should result in annual government revenues between $80 and $100 million.

Construction of the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline has begun in earnest and cost $3.5 billion. A consortium of oil companies and the World Bank has funded the project.

An oil refinery has been built in collaboration with CNPCI China, which owes 60% and 40% of the Chadian state. The refinery has been in operation since 2010.

Agriculture

The agricultural sector employs 80% of the country’s workforce and most farming takes place on a subsistence level. Cotton and livestock are the two main products – both earn significant foreign revenues for the country.

The effective development of the agricultural sector is hampered by harsh environmental conditions and a lack of infrastructure.

Mining

Chad’s mining sector remains largely underdeveloped, although preliminary studies suggest there is a lot of potential. Highly prospective areas have been identified for gold, bauxite, uranium, silver and alluvial diamonds.

The Mining Code of 1995 regulates the sector and provides incentives for foreign investors. With the recent discovery of gold in Lake Fitri in Guera, located to the north, Chadian citizens have moved to that part of the country in search of gold and the government is working on a law to regulate the situation.

Telecommunications

There is a Celtel booth on every street in the capital. The internet has also become more accessible, although the rural areas are lacking in these and other infrastructural areas.

Lack of paved roads and poor electricity generation are additional infrastructural considerations.