The Managing Director of SIPI-BENIN S.A, Létondji Beheton, and the CEO of CDC Bénin, Maryse Lokossou, took center stage at the Africa Forward | Inspire & Connect event in Kenya to unveil the Bénin’s industrial and financial blueprint. Organized with the backing of Bpifrance, Business France, and Proparco under the aegis of Presidents Emmanuel Macron and William Ruto, the forum served as a platform to spotlight investment opportunities in Bénin.

Addressing a global audience of economic and financial stakeholders, the Bénin leaders championed a strategy built on local value addition, industrialization, and long-term capital mobilization. At the heart of the discussions was the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ), hailed as a cornerstone of the government’s economic transformation agenda.

GDIZ: a catalyst for industrialization

Létondji Beheton shared insights into his journey from international financial institutions back to Bénin in 2016, where he joined the administration to enhance the business climate and drive industrial projects. He highlighted the GDIZ, a 1,640-hectare special economic zone now home to over twenty operational factories and credited with creating roughly 25,000 jobs.

The SIPI-BENIN S.A chief underscored the persistent hurdles to industrialization in Africa, from energy costs and high financing rates to gaps in logistics infrastructure. Bénin’s response lies in strategic investments across industrial, energy, and logistics sectors to boost local processing of agricultural commodities—particularly cotton and cashew nuts. As one of Africa’s top raw cotton producers, the country is positioning itself to capture more value from its resources.

CDC Bénin’s long-term capital strategy

Maryse Lokossou, CEO of CDC Bénin, outlined the mandate of the state-backed fund established in 2018 to mobilize long-term capital for strategic projects. Drawing on her tenure at the West African Development Bank (BOAD), she emphasized the fund’s role in sustaining investments that deepen Bénin’s economic transformation.

Key achievements highlighted include rising local processing rates: about 13% of raw cotton and nearly half of exported cashew nuts are now processed domestically. These efforts are expected to spur youth employment and skill development across industrial sectors.

An open invitation to foreign investors

In front of international investors at the forum, both leaders extended a call to action. Maryse Lokossou affirmed CDC Bénin’s readiness to de-risk industrial ventures through structured financing. Létondji Beheton urged accelerated investment flows to match the country’s industrial ambitions.

Together, they presented Bénin as a structured ecosystem combining industrial infrastructure, financial support, and strong political backing. The participation underscored the nation’s commitment to deepen its ties with global partners and attract fresh capital into industrial processing, energy, and infrastructure development.