Some facts and statistics
Location
The Republic of Chad is a landlocked country located in Central Africa. It shares its borders with Libya, Sudan, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Nigeria and Niger.
Population and Area
According to the estimate of 2011, the population of Chad is 11.53 million and the area of the country is 1,284,000 square km.
Capital and Language
The largest city and the capital of Chad is N’Djamena. The official languages of Chad are French and Arabic.
Ethnic Division and Religion
There are many ethnic groups in Chad. 27.7% are Sara, 12.3% are Arabs, 11.5% mayo-kebbi, 9% Kanem-Bornou, 8.7% Quaddai, 6.7% Hadjarai, 6.5% Tandjile’, 6.3% Daza, 4.7% Fitre-Batha, 6.4% are other miscellaneous ethnic groups.
According to a census conducted in 1993, 54% of the Chadians were Muslim, 20% were Roman Catholic, 14% were Protestant, 10% animist and 3% atheist.
Economic Overview of Chad
According to the 2009 estimate, Chad exports about 115,000 billion barrels of oil per day. According to the International Monetary Fund’s 2011 World Economic Outlook, Chad earned around $3 billion from its oil exports in 2010.
GDP growth rate: 1.6%
GDP per capita: $891
International companies in Chad
Griffith’s Energy International, a Canada based company, is investing in the oil sector of Chad. Many American companies are also investing in various sectors of Chad, offering employment to the local population but on low salary rates. The country’s infrastructure is being built with the help of these international organizations.
Political Set-up
In the political system of Chad, President holds most of the powers. He appoints the prime minister and his cabinet and has a considerable say in other important appointments such as top army officials, judges, provincial offices and heads of state-run firms. The President is elected for a five year term but at times when the need arises, he could get a two year extension as well.
Chadian Society and Culture
The culture of Chad is predominantly conservative because still the males have more rights than the females and there are many occupations which are only adopted by the males. People in towns and most of the families in urban areas as well, live in joint families. Because different ethnic groups and people belonging to different religious backgrounds are living in the same country, etiquette often varies. But there is a common note of respect for the elders in a family, the Chadians believe and practice moderation in every aspect of life. Chadians like to avoid confrontation but after the civil war a change has been seen in this arena. The younger generation often displays a show of aggression in their behavior.
Need for Translators
It is essential to hire translators in Chad because of the language barriers one might face. All Chadians speak either French or Arabic. You might even need to get some important official documents translated. It’s good to hire translators by the help of a reputed translation services company, such as the New York translation services company and the Houston translation services company.
Business Etiquette and Rules
- A handshake is the most common form of greeting whereas when meeting a woman, generally a nod of the head on both sides is considered a form of greeting.
- Before discussing business, they like to do small talk and prefer asking after the wellbeing of the other person’s family etc.
- A formal business suit for men and conservative, non-revealing clothes would be the right choice for women. If not in the capital, you can dress up more casually.
- Be punctual on business meetings but do not expect it in return.
- Greet people in a meeting according to their rank.
- Address people by their professional titles. It shows respect.
- Business cards are given without any formality.