Benin’s Council of Ministers on 4 November created an Industrial Development Fund with capital of 100 billion CFA francs (about $170 million). The fund will take equity and quasi-equity stakes in industrial firms, guarantee part of long-term loans made by banks and leasing companies, and offer ready-to-use factory buildings in the country’s development hubs. It was approved alongside the government’s 2026–2033 action programme, which expects the private sector to provide 55% of its financing and cites textile plants using local cotton and ceramic-tile makers as models. Sharing risk with banks targets the long payback periods that keep commercial credit away from manufacturing. The next step is appointing the fund’s managers and opening its three windows.
Sources
- Les 4 Vérités (official Council of Ministers report, 4 Nov 2026): https://www.les4verites.bj/compte-rendu-du-conseil-des-ministres-du-04-novembre-2026/
- La Météo: https://www.lameteo.info/industrie-au-benin-le-gouvernement-debloque-100-milliards-fcfa-pour-financer-les-entreprises/
- People’s Daily (French edition): http://french.people.com.cn/Afrique/n3/2026/1105/c96852-20515898.html