Bénin’s leaders pitch industrial transformation and investment potential in Nairobi
The Director-General of SIPI-BENIN S.A, Létondji Beheton, and the CEO of CDC Bénin, Maryse Lokossou, recently presented the country’s industrial and financial strategy to international investors at the Africa Forward | Inspire & Connect event in Nairobi, Kenya. The forum, backed by key financial institutions, served as a platform to highlight investment prospects in Bénin, emphasizing local value addition, industrialization, and long-term capital mobilization.
During the panel discussions, both leaders outlined Bénin’s vision for economic transformation, centered on leveraging its agricultural raw materials and strengthening industrial infrastructure. The Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ), a flagship project spanning 1,640 hectares, was highlighted as a critical enabler of this strategy, with over 20 operational factories and nearly 25,000 jobs already generated.
GDIZ: A cornerstone of Bénin’s industrial ambitions
Létondji Beheton shared insights into his transition from international financial institutions to leading SIPI-BENIN S.A in 2016, driven by a commitment to improve Bénin’s business climate and industrial projects. He underscored the GDIZ’s role in overcoming continental challenges such as high energy costs, limited access to competitive financing, and logistical gaps. The zone is designed to accelerate the processing of key commodities like cotton and cashew nuts—sectors where Bénin holds significant potential as a top African producer of raw cotton.
The strategy includes substantial investments in industrial, energy, and logistics infrastructure to reduce reliance on raw material exports. Currently, around 13% of locally produced cotton is processed domestically, while nearly half of exported cashew nuts undergo on-site transformation—a shift expected to boost youth employment and skill development.
CDC Bénin mobilizes long-term capital for industrial growth
Maryse Lokossou, CEO of CDC Bénin, a sovereign wealth fund established in 2018, detailed how the institution channels long-term resources into strategic projects. As a former executive at the West African Development Bank (BOAD), she emphasized the fund’s role in de-risking industrial investments, particularly in cotton and cashew processing. The approach aims to deepen local value chains and enhance export competitiveness.
Data presented at the event revealed that CDC Bénin’s interventions have already increased local processing rates, with 13% of cotton and nearly 50% of exported cashew nuts now transformed within the country. The initiative aligns with broader goals of job creation and industrial upskilling.
Attracting global investors to Bénin’s industrial ecosystem
Both executives issued a call to international investors, positioning Bénin as a structured ecosystem combining industrial infrastructure, financial support, and political backing. Maryse Lokossou assured potential investors of CDC Bénin’s readiness to mitigate project risks, while Létondji Beheton stressed the urgency of accelerating investment flows to meet the country’s industrialization targets.
The forum underscored Bénin’s ambition to elevate its profile among foreign partners and secure new investments across industrialization, energy, and infrastructure sectors.
