Benin minister engages with smes in alibori and borgou departments

The Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Employment Promotion, Awaou Baco, concluded a two-day working visit to the Alibori and Borgou departments on July 28-29, 2026. The tour brought her face-to-face with local entrepreneurs, artisans, livestock farmers, vocational training centers, and beneficiaries of the AZOLI program.

Meeting local entrepreneurs and assessing support programs

The minister’s agenda focused on assessing existing support systems for youth, women, artisans, and people with disabilities. Her first stop on July 28 was in Alibori, where she met with the department’s prefect, Ahmed Bello Ky-Sama, before heading to Malanville.

In Malanville, she engaged with small business owners, auto repair technicians, and rabbit breeders, gaining firsthand insights into their operational challenges and needs. At Nikki, she visited the vocational training center specializing in artisan crafts, discussing training programs and employment prospects with both instructors and trainees.

A working session at the Kandi town hall brought the minister together with local youth. Discussions centered on public programs offering training, job opportunities, and entrepreneurship initiatives.

AZOLI program empowers youth and people with disabilities

The second day of the tour, July 29, took the delegation to Borgou, beginning with a courtesy call on the prefect, Abdoul Chakour Assouma Naro. At the Amaldi Prestige Hotel in Parakou, she met with around fifty young participants from four northern departments who were completing their training under the AZOLI program. The conversation covered training progress and post-program insertion opportunities.

A key highlight was the 46 individuals with disabilities trained in shoemaking and leatherwork. This initiative aims to equip them with essential professional skills and foster economic independence.

Spotlight on enterprise support and digital platforms

The delegation also visited ASAFMA, a metalworking SME producing agricultural machinery. The company receives support from the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency, the Entrepreneurship Support Project in Benin, and the Chamber of Trades and Crafts.

The final stop was at Delika’s Tissage, an artisan enterprise specializing in traditional fabric weaving, handwoven strips, and personalized textile products. The owner integrates local textile heritage into modern designs.

Throughout the visit, Awaou Baco encouraged participants to leverage digital platforms like SICA (available at sica.anpe.bj) and e-PME. These tools streamline access to business financing, registration, and professional insertion opportunities.

The minister emphasized perseverance in entrepreneurial ventures and underscored the government’s commitment to advancing youth and women’s employment and entrepreneurship through ongoing reforms and investments.