Bénin showcases industrial and investment potential at Africa Forward event in Kenya

The Chief Executive Officer of SIPI-BENIN S.A, Létondji Beheton, and the Managing Director of CDC Bénin, Maryse Lokossou, championed the Bénin’s industrial and financial strategy at the Africa Forward | Inspire & Connect event. Organized with support from key international partners, the forum highlighted investment opportunities in the West African nation.

Before a gathering of global economic and financial stakeholders, the two Bénin-based executives outlined a vision centered on local value addition, industrialization, and long-term capital mobilization. The discussion prominently featured the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ), a flagship project underpinning the country’s economic transformation agenda.

GDIZ emerges as a catalyst for industrial growth

During a panel discussion, Létondji Beheton shared insights into his professional journey, including his transition from international financial institutions to public service in Bénin in 2016. As head of SIPI-BENIN S.A, he emphasized his commitment to enhancing the business environment and advancing industrial projects.

The GDIZ, spanning 1,640 hectares, has become a cornerstone of this strategy. Official figures reveal over twenty operational factories within the zone, with an estimated 25,000 jobs already generated. Beheton acknowledged persistent challenges in African industrialization—such as high energy costs, limited access to affordable financing, and logistical bottlenecks—but underscored Bénin’s proactive approach to addressing them.

The country is prioritizing investments in industrial, energy, and logistics infrastructure to bolster local processing of agricultural raw materials. A key focus is expanding the domestic transformation of cotton and cashew nuts, sectors where Bénin ranks among Africa’s top producers.

CDC Bénin champions long-term capital for economic transformation

Maryse Lokossou, Managing Director of CDC Bénin, elaborated on the role of the state-owned investment vehicle established in 2018. Designed as a sovereign wealth fund, CDC Bénin mobilizes long-term capital to finance strategic initiatives aligned with national development goals.

Drawing from her background at the West African Development Bank (BOAD), she noted that the fund’s investments are geared toward sustainable economic transformation. Highlighting progress, she revealed that 13% of locally produced cotton is now processed domestically before export, while nearly half of exported cashew nuts undergo local value addition. These efforts are expected to create job opportunities and strengthen industrial skill development across the country.

Bénin seeks foreign investment to accelerate industrial ambitions

Addressing international investors at the Africa Forward | Inspire & Connect forum, the Béninese leaders extended invitations for collaboration. Lokossou emphasized CDC Bénin’s readiness to mitigate investment risks for industrial projects, while Beheton called for accelerated capital inflows to meet the nation’s industrialization targets.

Both executives underscored the synergy between robust infrastructure, financial backing, and government commitment as the foundation of Bénin’s growth strategy. Their participation underscores the country’s resolve to elevate its profile among global investors and attract capital into critical sectors such as manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure.