Choiseul Africa Summit à Cotonou

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14 sessions
Les Collines
Feb 27, 2025
10:00 AM11:00 AM

Optimising Regional Value Chains Through Transport Infrastructure, Logistics, and Digital Connectivity

Description
Benin, with its privileged geographical location at the crossroads of the Abidjan-Lagos and Cotonou-Niamey corridors, serves as a central hub in regional exchanges, providing vital maritime access for landlocked countries, particularly Niger, Burkina Faso, and further afield, Mali. The Beninese government hence places a high priority on enhancing the attractiveness of transport corridors, whether maritime, land-based, or air, in order to strengthen its role as a key gateway for trade in West Africa. Significant investments are being made to modernise these infrastructures, especially the port of Cotonou, where over 600 million euros will be invested by 2026. Simultaneously, digital connectivity and the implementation of simplified customs procedures ensure smoother exchanges, fostering economic diversification and increasing the competitiveness of businesses locally. This dynamic of investment and infrastructure development positions Benin as a key player in regional value chains. Businesses thus benefit from the modernisation of infrastructure and the stability of the economic framework, while also accessing opportunities for sustainable growth. In which ways can private investments contribute to enhancing the competitiveness of value chains in Benin and the sub-region? What measures should be taken to ensure the effective integration of transport corridors into regional value chains, while promoting sustainable economic development.
Les Collines
Feb 27, 2025
11:15 AM12:15 PM

Agro-industry as Catalyst for Growth and Regional Competitiveness

Description
Benin’s agriculture, contributing 32.7% to the GDP and engaging more than 40% of the active population, lies at the heart of the country’s economy. Faced with climate challenges and the globalisation of markets, Benin has developed an ambitious strategy aimed at strengthening its agri-food sector. This approach rests on the local production of high-quality agricultural products such as pineapple, cotton, cassava, rice, and, more recently, cashew nuts and soybeans, which have become strategic economic priorities. Local agro-industrial processing, a cornerstone of economic policies, is essential for adding value to primary production. Cutting-edge infrastructure, such as the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ), plays a pivotal role in supporting this transformation, reducing post-harvest losses, and facilitating access to international markets. These efforts aim to enhance the competitiveness of Beninese products on the global stage while promoting the diversification of strategic value chains and fostering the development of a dynamic and resilient local agro-industry. Besides, Benin is striving to adopt international quality standards to strengthen the export potential of its agricultural products. Local businesses, supported by public and private initiatives, focus on compliance with global standards to improve their competitiveness in international markets. Furthermore, marketing strategies tailored to each market, along with efforts to reinforce the “Benin” national brand are at the core of initiatives aimed at promoting Beninese products beyond the country’s borders. What are the key levers to elevate the quality of Beninese products, enabling them to better comply with international standards and captivate global markets? In what ways can the national brand image of "Benin" be strengthened to conquer international markets, while fostering the development of the local agro-industry and contributing to job creation within the country?
Les Collines
Feb 27, 2025
2:00 PM3:00 PM

Elevating Workforce Value and Developing Skills for Seamless Regional and International Integration

Description
Benin stands out through its emerging sectors such as energy, agri-food, and digital technology, whose transformations are fostering the development of essential skills to its industrial transition. To enhance workforce employability and productivity, and thereby strengthen regional competitiveness, the Beninese government is solidly committed to expanding infrastructure capacity, promoting the use of new technologies, and advancing technical and vocational training curricula. Through its ambitious partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), focused on enhancing human capital in priority sectors, and the establishment of eight flagship vocational schools, current initiatives reveal significant potential to foster long-term synergies with the private sector, current initiatives suggest strong potential to dynamise synergies with the private sector in the long term, particularly in terms of work-study training, the development of teaching programs, as well as the construction of educational establishments in Benin and in the sub-region. Furthermore, Benin ranks among the most dynamic countries in the ‘far-shore’ sector, positioning itself as a key hub for businesses, starting with Samsung or Carglass that are seeking to outsource customer experience services and commercial operations. What innovative models of training programs and sustainable infrastructure can be deployed to address the evolving needs of the Beninese and regional markets? How can public-private partnerships be strengthened to support skills development and enhance employability in Benin and the sub-region?
Les Collines
Feb 27, 2025
3:15 PM4:15 PM

Access to Financing: Unlocking Competitiveness, Innovation, and Business Growth in West Africa

Description
Undergoing significant economic transformation, Benin is striving to become a regional hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. To achieve this goal, the country is implementing strategies to improve access to financing, particularly through venture capital, and to strengthen public-private partnerships (PPPs). The Beninese government, in collaboration with international financial institutions such as the African Development Bank (AfDB), has launched programs to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and innovative startups. For instance, the African Development Fund provided a loan of approximately €39 million to Benin in 2023 to boost the private sector's contribution to economic development, focusing on improving the business climate and fostering the agro-industrial sector. Benin’s legal framework for PPPs has recently been revised to attract more private investment in key sectors such as infrastructure, energy, and information technology. This reform aims to create an environment conducive to collaboration between the public sector and private investors, facilitating the implementation of transformative projects. In addition to venture capital, Benin is exploring other innovative financing mechanisms, such as green bonds and investment funds dedicated to tech startups. These financial instruments provide entrepreneurs with tailored resources to develop their projects and contribute to the country’s economic growth. What roles can public-private partnerships play in developing innovative financial services for businesses? How can private investments, both domestic and international, be attracted and secured to support business growth and develop strategic sectors?
Les Collines
Feb 27, 2025
4:45 PM5:45 PM

Confronting Urbanisation and Connectivity Challenges in 21st Century African Cities

Description
The rapid urbanisation in Africa presents complex challenges in terms of infrastructure and connectivity. African cities must adapt to unprecedented population growth while addressing environmental challenges and economic needs. In this context, urban transformation requires an integrated approach, combining the modernisation of transport infrastructure with improved access to public services and digital connectivity. Benin, with its initiatives in smart infrastructure and sustainable development, serves as a relevant model for other countries in the region, emphasising the synergy between digitisation, infrastructure projects, and urban mobility. Connectivity between cities, whether physical or digital, is becoming a major lever for fostering regional integration and stimulating local economies. Infrastructure modernisation projects, such as transport networks or digital systems, offer significant growth potential but require an adequate policy framework and governance. In this context, cooperation between the public and private sectors is essential to develop sustainable and efficient solutions. By improving the interconnection of its major cities through modernised infrastructure, Benin is well-positioned to become a driver of competitiveness in the sub-region. How can rapid urbanisation be managed promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth? How can public policies improve the coordination of infrastructure projects across the continent? How can the private sector play a key role in optimising urban infrastructure and connectivity while addressing sustainability goals?