V.  MARKETING OF U.S. PRODUCTS

USE OF AGENTS AND FINDING A PARTNER

ENTERING A SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP OR REPRESENTATIONAL
ARRANGEMENT CAN BE AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TASK IN GUINEA'S
NEWLY-DEVELOPING PRIVATE SECTOR.  BECAUSE TRANSPARENCY IN THE
JUDICIAL SYSTEM IS STILL IN THE EARLY STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT,
U.S. BUSINESSPERSONS SHOULD EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN
ENTERING CONTRACT ARRANGEMENTS LOCALLY.  THE LOCAL CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE, THE EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION, AND GOG OFFICES OF
INVESTMENT PROMOTION ARE GOOD CENTRAL POINTS OF CONTACT WITH
THE LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

VENTURE LICENSING

REGISTRY OF A BUSINESS IS RELATIVELY STRAIGHTFORWARD.  LEGAL
INCORPORATION FOR NEW INVESTMENTS INVOLVES SIGNING BY-LAWS,
DEPOSITING THE START-UP CAPITAL IN A BLOCKED BANK ACCOUNT,
REGISTERING THE COMPANY AT THE REGISTER OF ECONOMIC
ACTIVITIES, AND ANNOUNCING THE INCORPORATION IN A JOURNAL FOR
LEGAL NOTICES.   A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRATION IS
INCLUDED IN PARAGRAPH 97 BELOW.

DISTRIBUTION AND SALES CHANNELS

SALES OF PRODUCTS OF MASS CONSUMPTION USUALLY OCCUR THROUGH
WHOLESALERS WHO IMPORT IN BULK FOR RESALE TO SMALL TRADERS OR
DISTRIBUTORS IN THE INTERIOR.  CONAKRY, GUINEA'S CAPITAL, HAS
TWO LARGE MARKETPLACES, NUMEROUS SMALL SHOPS, AND THREE LARGE
GROCERY STORES.   LUXURY CONSUMPTION GOODS ARE OFTEN IMPORTED
DIRECTLY BY RETAILERS.  HEAVY EQUIPMENT SALES ARE GENERALLY
CONDUCTED DIRECTLY BETWEEN THE SUPPLIER AND THE MINING,
UTILITY, OR INDUSTRIAL FIRM INVOLVED.  SERVICE AND CUSTOMER
SUPPORT ARE GENERALLY AVAILABLE ONLY IF NEGOTIATED AT TIME OF
SALE.  FOR SALES TO THE GOVERNMENT, ADVANCE PAYMENT IS
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.

DIRECT MARKETING

MARKETING CHANNELS COMMON IN THE INDUSTRIALIZED WORLD ARE
UTILIZED ONLY TO A MINIMAL EXTENT.  HOWEVER, THE RADIO-
TELEVISION GUINEE (RTG) NETWORK CAN BE UTILIZED FOR PRODUCT
PROMOTION.  GENERALLY, THESE FORA ARE UTILIZED FOR LOW-COST,
MASS CONSUMPTION PRODUCTS SUCH AS CANNED DAIRY PRODUCTS, SOFT
DRINKS, OR COOKING CONDIMENTS.  BILLBOARD ADVERTISEMENTS FOR
CONSUMPTION ITEMS ARE UTILIZED IN CONAKRY AND, OCCASIONALLY,
IN THE INTERIOR.  THERE ARE SEVERAL LOCAL NEWSPAPERS AND
BUSINESS GUIDES PUBLISHED WEEKLY OR BI-WEEKLY WHICH REACH THE
CONSUMER MARKET IN CONAKRY.

OTHER TRADE PROMOTION TECHNIQUES, GENERALLY UTILIZED FOR NEW
HIGH TECHNOLOGY OR SPECIALTY PRODUCTS TARGETING A SMALL MARKET
NICHE IN CONAKRY  INCLUDE DEMONSTRATION EVENTS OR PRODUCT
FAIRS.  GENERALLY, THESE OCCUR IN HOTEL SPACE AVAILABLE IN
CONAKRY, OR THROUGH AGREEMENT WITH A LOCAL PARTNER OR GOG
OFFICE.  U.S. PRODUCTS SHOWCASED IN THIS MANNER WITHIN THE
LAST YEAR INCLUDE AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY, COMMUNICATIONS
EQUIPMENT, AND VEHICLES.

PROTECTING YOUR PRODUCT FROM IPR INFRINGEMENT

AS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPHS 94-96, THE GUINEAN COURT SYSTEM IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR IPR ENFORCEMENT.  ALTHOUGH IPR REGISTRATION
PROCEDURES HAVE RECENTLY BEEN DETAILED, THERE IS NO
ADMINISTRATIVE OR REGULATORY SYSTEM IN PLACE FOR ENFORCEMENT.

LOCAL ATTORNEY

A LOCAL ATTORNEY IS STRONGLY ADVISED AS A SOURCE OF
CONSULTATION AND GUIDANCE IN THE CASE OF BUSINESS DISPUTES.
THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM IN GUINEA, OFTEN ACCUSED OF CORRUPTION, IS
STILL IN THE EARLY STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT. THUS, AN ATTORNEY
FAMILIAR WITH LOCAL PRACTICES IS ESSENTIAL.  THE EMBASSY
MAINTAINS A LIST OF LOCAL ATTORNEYS IN THE CONSULAR SECTION.