Bénin’s leaders pitch economic transformation at Nairobi investment forum
The Director-General of SIPI-BENIN S.A, Létondji Beheton, and the CEO of CDC Bénin, Maryse Lokossou, showcased the country’s industrial and financial strategy to global investors during Africa Forward | Inspire & Connect in Nairobi. This high-level event, supported by key international partners, served as a platform to highlight investment opportunities in Bénin’s booming industrial sector.
The two Beninese officials emphasized a development model centered on local processing of raw materials, industrialization, and long-term capital mobilization. A highlight of their presentation was the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ), a flagship project underpinning the government’s economic transformation agenda.
GDIZ emerges as a catalyst for industrialization
Speaking on a panel, Létondji Beheton reflected on his international finance career before returning to Bénin in 2016 to contribute to improving the business environment and driving industrial projects. He underscored the rapid expansion of the GDIZ, a special economic zone spanning 1,640 hectares with over twenty operational factories and an estimated 25,000 jobs created.
Despite progress, he acknowledged persistent challenges in African industrialization, including high energy costs, limited access to competitive financing, and logistical bottlenecks. To address these, Bénin is prioritizing investments in industrial, energy, and logistics infrastructure, particularly in the processing of cotton and cashew nuts—two of the country’s key agricultural exports. As a leading producer of raw cotton in Africa, Bénin aims to boost onshore processing capacity to capture greater value from its resources.
CDC Bénin mobilizes long-term capital for economic growth
Maryse Lokossou, CEO of CDC Bénin, detailed the role of the public institution established in 2018 to serve as a sovereign wealth fund. She explained that the fund mobilizes long-term resources to finance strategic projects, particularly in the cotton and cashew processing sectors.
According to figures shared during the forum, approximately 13% of Bénin’s raw cotton output is now processed domestically before export, while nearly half of its cashew nut production undergoes local transformation. This shift is expected to create jobs and enhance industrial skills across the country.
Bénin seeks foreign investors to accelerate industrialization
The Beninese delegation called on international investors to capitalize on the country’s structured ecosystem, which combines industrial infrastructure, financial support, and strong political commitment. Maryse Lokossou stressed that CDC Bénin is ready to mitigate investment risks for project developers, while Létondji Beheton urged faster capital deployment to meet industrialization targets.
The participation underscores Bénin’s efforts to enhance its appeal to foreign partners and attract new investments in industrial processing, energy, and infrastructure development.
