Bénin’s industrial leaders pitch opportunities at Kenya summit
The Director-General of SIPI-BENIN S.A, Létondji Beheton, and the CEO of CDC Bénin, Maryse Lokossou, presented the country’s industrial and financial blueprint at the Africa Forward | Inspire & Connect event in Nairobi. Organized with support from Bpifrance, Business France, and Proparco, the forum highlighted investment prospects in Bénin’s expanding economy.
Both leaders outlined a strategy centered on local raw material processing, industrialization, and long-term capital mobilization. A key focus was the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ), a flagship project driving Bénin’s economic transformation under government policy.
GDIZ drives industrial ambitions
Létondji Beheton shared his journey from international financial institutions to advancing Bénin’s business environment in 2016. He highlighted the GDIZ’s rapid development—a 1,640-hectare economic hub now hosting over 20 operational factories and creating roughly 25,000 jobs. Challenges like high energy costs, access to affordable financing, and logistics gaps remain, but Bénin is tackling them with targeted infrastructure investments in industry, energy, and transport.
The country targets increased local processing of key crops, particularly cotton and cashews, where it ranks among Africa’s top raw cotton producers. Strengthening domestic processing aims to boost value-addition and job creation in the agricultural sector.
CDC Bénin mobilizes long-term capital
Maryse Lokossou, CEO of CDC Bénin—a sovereign wealth fund established in 2018—emphasized its role in funding strategic projects with patient capital. Drawing from her experience at the West African Development Bank (BOAD), she underscored investments in cotton and cashew processing that have already raised local processing rates: 13% of raw cotton and nearly 50% of exported cashews are now processed domestically.
The initiative also prioritizes youth employment and skills development in industrial sectors. By fostering a structured ecosystem of infrastructure, financing, and policy support, Bénin seeks to attract foreign capital and accelerate its industrialization goals.
Call for global investors
Addressing international investors at the summit, Maryse Lokossou highlighted CDC Bénin’s readiness to de-risk industrial projects. Létondji Beheton urged faster investment flows to meet Bénin’s industrial ambitions. Together, they presented a cohesive vision where infrastructure, financial backing, and political commitment converge to unlock Bénin’s economic potential.
