Economy of Benin: everything to know about Benin’s economy. GDP, national income, unemployment rate, national output, profitable sectors, agriculture, industry, primary and tertiary sectors.
The 2025 edition of the Economic Freedom Index by “The Heritage Fondation”, reported by Agence Ecofin, paints an unflattering picture for the African continent. In the majority of countries, barriers to economic freedom remain strong, driven by persistent corruption, burdensome taxation and markets that are still insufficiently open. In this context, Benin stands out as […]
At its 149th meeting held on 11 December 2025 in Nairobi, the Board of Directors of Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB) elected former Beninese Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou as the institution’s president. Specializing in housing finance, urban development and related infrastructure, Shelter Afrique has now placed its board under the leadership of an economist and […]
This commissioning responds to the need to improve traffic flow on this major stretch, which regularly faces heavy traffic. The decision aligns with the provisions of Order No. 032 of 29 June 2018, which sets out the rules for collecting passage fees and the rates applicable according to vehicle categories. SIRAT SA asks road users […]
The Autonomous Port of Cotonou has a new Board of Directors. Head of State Patrice Talon appointed seven members by decree on 5 November 2025. Their mission will be to guide and validate strategic decisions aimed at strengthening the port’s development. Their term is three years, renewable from the time they take office. The new […]
The Beninese government presented to MPs the main orientations of the draft finance law (PLF) 2026, with a balanced budget estimated at 3 783,984 milliards de FCFA. According to the document presented to parliamentarians, the 2026 draft finance law is based on a growth assumption of 7.5%, driven by the agricultural sector, industrialization and port […]
A delegation of about ten Moroccan companies from the agri-food sector is currently on a trade mission in Cotonou. The trip, organized from October 21 to 24, 2025, aims to explore export opportunities and partnerships with Beninese stakeholders. The initiative is part of efforts to strengthen South–South economic cooperation between the Kingdom of Morocco and […]
The National Agency for Market Management (ANaGeM) has launched the selection process for operators who will run its two new major facilities: the Grand Nokoué Agro-Food Hub in Abomey-Calavi and the General Mathieu Kérékou Commercial Hub in Cotonou. Presented as commercial hubs capable of reshaping national and sub-regional trade, these two complexes bring together modern, […]
The Beninese government has signed a contract with the French communications agency Havas Paris to promote the emblematic Beninese pineapple variety, Ananas Pain de Sucre, on the French market. This decision is part of a broader strategy to enhance high-value agricultural value chains and increase exports. According to the minutes of the latest Council of […]
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) praised the conduct of Senegalese authorities following the disclosure of a previously undisclosed debt. In a statement published on Wednesday, October 16, 2025, the institution acknowledged the “courage” of the Senegalese government in exposing this hidden portion of its indebtedness, saying that this transparency strengthens the credibility of macroeconomic management. […]
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced on Friday that it had reached a preliminary agreement with the Ghanaian government as part of the fifth review of its support program. This progress could allow the disbursement of $385 million, bringing to $2.8 billion the total funds allocated to Accra since the program’s launch in 2023. The […]
The project to modernize Cotonou’s artisanal fishing port has reached a major milestone. After signing the financing agreement with the Kingdom of the Netherlands in February 2024, the release of 23 billion CFA francs was conditional on meeting certain requirements set by the donor. One of these was obtaining a legal opinion confirming the contractual […]
Benin’s poultry sector reform takes a new step forward with the oversight mechanism of the Société de Développement des Fermes Avicoles S.A. (SDFA). Through decree no. 2025-539, President Patrice Talon appointed the statutory auditors of the Société de Développement des Fermes Avicoles S.A. (SDFA), a public instrument launched to modernize a sector considered crucial for […]
People wishing to benefit from the Alafia microcredit can now access loans of up to 200,000 FCFA. This increase was decided by the government at the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, as part of the imminent launch of the program’s third phase. According to the official report, “the government has indicated its […]
The Beninese government is issuing a call for expressions of interest for the development of private warehouses in Calavi, as part of the Grand Nokoué agri-food logistics platform and wholesale market project. The objective is to attract private investors to equip the area with modern storage facilities necessary to structure the national logistics chain. The […]
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has a new president. Mauritanian national Sidi Ould Tah officially took office this Monday in Abidjan, succeeding Nigerian Akinwumi Adesina for a five-year term. At 60 years old, Sidi Ould Tah was elected last May by a large majority of member states. A former Minister of Economy in Mauritania, he […]
Benin’s executive is projecting an ambitious budgetary path for the coming years. According to projections in the Multi-year Budgetary and Economic Programming Document (DPBEP), the wage bill-to-tax revenue ratio is expected to drop from 32.2% in 2025 to 30.9% in 2026, well below the 35% regional ceiling set by UEMOA. This performance reflects the government’s […]
The Beninese government is taking another step in its international economic influence strategy by organizing, on Thursday, August 28, 2025, the Benin Business Forum in Higashi-Osaka, Japan. This initiative aims to strengthen trade ties between Benin and Japan and position the country as a strategic investment destination in West Africa. According to the official statement, […]
The visit of a Russian delegation led by the Russian Minister of Energy, Sergey Tsivilev, to Burkina Faso concluded with an agreement to form an intergovernmental commission (IGC) to deepen bilateral cooperation. The negotiations focused on energy-related, trade, and joint health projects, the Russian Ministry of Energy said. “Not so long ago, our presidents met […]
The Central Bank of Ghana has decided to cut its key interest rate by three points in response to slowing inflation and the exit from a severe economic crisis, reports the information site Africanews. According to this media, the monetary policy committee adopted this reduction by a majority, dropping the rate from 28% to 25%, […]
This is a breath of fresh air for the Beninese agricultural sector. The African Development Bank (ADB) has just approved funding of $30.25 million, or more than 16.7 billion CFA francs, to support Benin’s efforts to protect its farmers against the increasing effects of climate change and food insecurity. This funding is part of a […]
The Benin government has declared a vast area of 983 hectares in Illara, in the commune of Kétou, as of public utility. This decision, taken at the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, marks the official launch of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at the eastern border of the country. According to the […]
In Benin, the council of ministers met this Wednesday, July 23, 2025. The following decisions have been made:
In an atmosphere described as relaxed and conducive to exchange, President Patrice Talon met on Friday with leaders of major companies operating in Benin. Held at the Marina Palace, this listening session aimed to gather their concerns and identify tangible action levers to bolster their contribution to national development. Through his introductory remarks, the head […]
Benin recorded an economic growth of 7.5% in 2024, its highest level since 1990, according to the latest Economic Outlook Report published by the World Bank on July 17, 2025. This remarkable performance is mainly attributed to the dynamism of the service and industry sectors, particularly thanks to the boom of the Industrial Zone of […]
The Public Market Regulation Authority (ARMP) made a firm decision on June 12, 2025: the immediate suspension of two public procurement officials in the municipality of Tori-Bossito for serious professional misconduct. The measure, contained in decision n°2025-079, follows a complaint lodged by the consortium BELMAG SARL / INNOV ENGINEERING CONSULTING, which was eliminated from several […]
After decades of French dominance in its uranium sector, Niger has reclaimed control of Somaïr and is shaking up the global geopolitical landscape. In the wake of the end of the Orano era, the country is now seeking new partners to leverage its strategic resource, all while tackling the challenge of skills transfer and mining […]
Once relegated to the realm of economic fiction, the idea of international oversight of French finances is becoming increasingly confirmed. The persistent deterioration of the public deficit, coupled with the ineffectiveness of adjustment measures, has several experts fearing a scenario where the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or the European Central Bank (ECB) would intervene to […]
Togo confirms its positive momentum on the WAEMU public securities market, with a new success recorded during its first outing in June 2025. The operation, conducted on June 5th, enabled the Togolese Treasury to raise 22 billion FCFA, exceeding the initial target of 20 billion FCFA. Investor confidence remains strong. The operation generated significant interest, […]
The first locally designed and operated onshore oil terminal has been commissioned in Nigeria. The loading of the first quantities of crude onto a tanker was carried out at the Otakikpo terminal, with a capacity of 360,000 barrels per day, reported The Nation newspaper. The site was built by the Nigerian company Green Energy International […]
At the end of his term as head of the Central Office for Combating Illicit Enrichment (OCLEI), Moumouni Guindo submitted the institution’s final report to the Malian authorities. A groundbreaking document that reviews eight years of anti-corruption efforts, marked by progress but also serious issues to address. Since its inception, the OCLEI has handled 63 […]
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