Starting a business in Mali: foreigner's guide (2026)

The 2012 Investment Code grants foreign investors the same treatment as Malian nationals and allows 100% foreign ownership in most sectors. An exception applies to media companies, where foreigners may not exceed a 50% stake and primary shareholders must be Malian nationals.

API-Mali's Guichet Unique centralises all registration steps — RCCM (commercial registry), tax ID (NINA), INPS, and investment approvals — with an official target of 72 hours from file submission. In practice the U.S. State Department notes registration can be 'cumbersome and take longer.'

Under OHADA rules as applied in Mali, the minimum share capital for a Société à Responsabilité Limitée (SARL) — the most common vehicle for foreign investors — is 1,000,000 FCFA (approx. USD 1,600). No paid-in minimum is required at the time of incorporation.

The 2012 Investment Code defines four tax-incentive regimes (A–D) based on investment size, beginning at a threshold of 12.5 million FCFA (~USD 20,000). Regime D covers export-oriented enterprises above 12.5 million FCFA. Benefits include customs and tax exemptions during establishment and operational phases.

Mali's 2023 Mining Code (replacing the 2019 code) requires the State to hold a minimum 35% interest in local mining companies, including at least 10% as a free carry. Any foreign subcontractor or supplier to a mining operator must have at least 35% Malian ownership under the accompanying Local Content Law.

The U.S. State Department's 2025 Investment Climate Statement flags unfair application of tax laws, customs clearance difficulties, and solicitation of bribes as recurring practical obstacles for foreign investors, even where the formal legal framework is permissive.