Bénin showcases industrial growth at Kenya investment forum
SIPI-BENIN S.A CEO Létondji Beheton and CDC Bénin Managing Director Maryse Lokossou outlined the nation’s industrial and financial strategy at Africa Forward | Inspire & Connect in Nairobi. Organized with support from French and Kenyan economic agencies, the event spotlighted Benin’s investment potential for international partners.
The Bénin delegation emphasized a model built on local value addition, industrialization, and long-term capital mobilization. Central to their pitch was the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ), hailed as a flagship initiative under Benin’s economic transformation agenda.
GDIZ: Africa’s emerging industrial hub
Létondji Beheton detailed his transition from international finance to Benin’s public sector in 2016, driven by a mission to enhance the business climate and advance industrial projects. He highlighted GDIZ’s rapid expansion—a 1,640-hectare economic zone now hosting over 20 operational factories and generating approximately 25,000 jobs.
Energy costs, access to affordable financing, and logistics infrastructure remain key hurdles for Africa’s industrialization, he noted. Benin is countering these challenges by investing in energy, industrial, and transport infrastructure to boost local processing of agricultural commodities like cotton and cashews. As one of Africa’s top raw cotton producers, Benin is positioning itself to capture greater value from its resources.
CDC Bénin mobilizes long-term capital for growth
Maryse Lokossou outlined the mandate of CDC Bénin, the sovereign wealth fund established by the Beninese government in 2018. Designed to channel long-term capital into strategic projects, CDC Bénin focuses on de-risking investments in priority sectors such as cotton and cashew processing.
She reported tangible progress: roughly 13% of Benin’s raw cotton is now processed domestically before export, while nearly half of cashew nuts slated for shipment undergo local transformation. These efforts are expected to create youth employment and build industrial talent pipelines.
Call for foreign investors to join Benin’s industrial push
The Beninese delegation urged international investors to capitalize on the country’s structured ecosystem—combining industrial infrastructure, financial backing, and government commitment. Maryse Lokossou emphasized CDC Bénin’s readiness to co-invest and mitigate project risks, while Létondji Beheton called for faster capital deployment to meet Benin’s industrialization milestones.
The strategy aims to elevate Benin’s profile as a destination for foreign direct investment in manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure, reinforcing its role in Africa’s industrial transformation.
