1. SWAN GROUP
World Markets - West Africa
SIA-MC 1
Presented By: Mr. Christian Deloughery
Vice President for International Business Development
2. Swan Group
• Swan Group Holding is a multinational group of companies operating on four
continents, serving thousands of people worldwide and providing them (but
not limited to) a variety of healthcare, travel insurance & assistance solutions.
SIA-MC 2
4. Is West Africa for me?
• Business in West Africa is relationship driven. Business relationships take
time to develop like everything else in West Africa. Are you willing to wait up
to one or two years?
• Business in West Africa is very personal. You will need to travel often even if
you do have a local partner. Are you prepared to that?
• You need a local partner. Are you willing to consider that?
• In some countries in West Africa the infrastructure can be very unreliable. Are
you ready for this?
• Are you a flexible and patient person with a sense of Adventure?
SIA-MC 4
6. Why setting-up business in West
Africa?
• Côte d’Ivoire (also known as the Ivory Coast) is the second largest economy of
the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), after Nigeria. It
represents around 40% of the West African Economic and Monetary Union
(WAEMU) Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
• In terms of assistance and insurance more than 56 million people visited the
African continent in 2014 out of which a fair part including expats and NGO visited
West Africa including the Ivory Coast.
• Economy predicted to grow at more than 7% for at least the next three years.
• Ivory Coast is a business and transportation hub for West Africa
• Infrastructure network is superior to most other West African countries
• The West African middle class has grown from 58 million in 2000 to 100 million in
2011, reflecting the successful implementation of economic and structural reforms
over the last decade.
SIA-MC 6
7. Challenges when working and
setting-up business in West Africa
SIA-MC 7
• Corruption
• Security
• Medical Infrastructure
• Difference in Culture and
understanding
• Communication
• Network
• Unforeseen problems
8. Corruption
Corruption in Côte d’Ivoire and the region is widespread and infiltrates all levels
of society, which is reflected in the country’s poor performance in most areas
assessed by governance indicators. Immunity is generalized throughout the
country and the justice system is seen as dangerously partial.
Côte d’Ivoire lacks some basic governance infrastructures, and the weakness
of law enforcement entities makes the governance system largely ineffective.
Patronage and clan networks continue to play a central role in the Ivoirian
society, and the administration does not operate transparently. The poor
governance structure is becoming an obstacle for genuine reconciliation in a
still-divided Côte d’Ivoire.
SIA-MC 8
9. Security
• The security situation in Abidjan can deteriorate at short notice.
• There’s a risk of crime in Abidjan, including violent crime, car-jackings, armed
break-ins to private residences, hold-ups in the street, and stealing from cars.
Weapons circulate freely.
• There is a general advise against all but essential travel to the western
regions of Dix-Huit Montagnes, Haut-Sassandra, Moyen-Cavally and Bas-
Sassandra, in particular the area to the west of Duékoué up to the border with
Liberia owing to the risk of serious violence by local militias. Fatal clashes
between militias and the security forces have taken place in this area as
recently as February 2015.
SIA-MC 9
11. Security in practical terms
• Expect Road blocks and checkpoints, both official and unofficial.
• When travel by land expect that driving standards and road conditions in
Côte d’Ivoire are poor.
• Curfew from midnight until 5am.
• Floods The rainy season in Côte d’Ivoire is from May to November. Torrential
rains can cause floods, landslides and large potholes.
SIA-MC 11
12. Daily Challenges
• Low infrastructure development especially in the medical infrastructure
• Shortage of skilled workers.
• Insufficient and unreliable market data.
• Limited use of English language (the French look different at this ).
• Uncertainty of legal protection due to an inefficient court system.
• High poverty and corruption.
• Limited purchasing power.
• Many sectors are state-owned due to problems reforming them to be
profitable.
SIA-MC 12
15. Challenges within our industry.
• Lack of proper Medical infrastructure.
• Prices of medical care.
• Competencies and skills of the medical staff.
• Communication.
• Language barriers.
• Guarantee of Payment. (Fashion model, 23, dies in Ivory Coast hospital after
vicious late-night attack 'because no one was there to pay her $230 medical
fees‘)
• Air Medical Evacuation costly and difficult outside of International Airports
SIA-MC 15
18. Communication
• No one answers the telephone
• Doctor is not present, patient can not be discharged
• Patient not registered with the clinic
• Want money or guarantee up front!
SIA-MC 18
20. Premature baby Coulibaly Yah Eugenie
lies in an incubator at Dabou Methodist
Hospital in Dabou, Côte d'Ivoire
SIA-MC 2020Swan International Assistance
