The Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Employment Promotion, Awaou Baco, concluded a two-day working visit to the departments of Alibori and Borgou on July 29, 2026. Her mission focused on engaging with local entrepreneurs, artisans, livestock farmers, training centers, and beneficiaries of the AZOLI program, assessing the effectiveness of support systems designed for youth, women, and persons with disabilities.
Meetings with local entrepreneurs and artisans
The first leg of the tour took place in Alibori, where Minister Baco met with the Prefect Ahmed Bello Ky-Sama before visiting Malanville. There, she engaged with small business owners, mechanics, and rabbit breeders to discuss their challenges and opportunities. In Nikki, she toured the professional artisan training center, where she reviewed available courses and discussed employment prospects with trainees.
In Kandi, a working session with local youth highlighted public initiatives in vocational training, job placement, and entrepreneurship, reinforcing the government’s commitment to fostering local economic growth.
The AZOLI program: empowering youth and persons with disabilities
The second day brought her to Borgou, where she first paid a courtesy visit to Prefect Abdoul Chakour Assouma Naro. At the Amaldi Prestige Hotel in Parakou, she met over 50 young beneficiaries of the AZOLI program, who were undergoing vocational training. Discussions centered on their progress and future job prospects upon completing the initiative.
A key component of AZOLI supports 46 persons with disabilities in leatherwork and shoemaking, equipping them with skills for economic independence. Additionally, she visited ASAFMA, a small enterprise specializing in welding, metalwork, and agro-processing machinery manufacturing. 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.
Digital platforms to simplify access to public services
The final stop was Delika’s Tissage, an artisanal business specializing in traditional weaving, fabric band production, and customized textile items. The owner showcased products rooted in local textile heritage, reinforcing cultural preservation alongside economic development.
At each stop, Minister Baco encouraged participants to use digital platforms such as SICA (www.sica.anpe.bj) and e-PME to access information on funding, business formalization, and professional training. She urged aspiring entrepreneurs to remain persistent, emphasizing the government’s ongoing reforms and investments to boost youth and women’s employment and entrepreneurship nationwide.
