COUNTRY PROFILE / BENIN

Continent: Africa

Official name: Republic of Benin

Nature of regime: Presidential

Head of State: Patrice TALON

Area: 112,622 km2

Currency: CFA franc

Population (2022, IMF): 12.5 million inhabitants

Capital: Porto Novo

Main towns: Cotonou, Djougou, Parakou, Abomey

Official language: French

Agreements and Conventions

Cooperation between Cote d’Ivoire and Benin is marked by several agreements. These include:

• Cooperation agreement signed on May 18, 2016, in the field of information and communication through their various Press Agencies;
• Military and Technical Agreement, signed on May 15, 2014 in Cotonou;
• Air Transport Agreement, signed on May 15, 2014 in Cotonou;
• Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Cooperation signed on May 14, 2014 in Cotonou;
• Twinning and cooperation agreement between the Municipality of Cotonou and the District of Abidjan signed on November 28, 2012;
• Framework Agreement for Commercial and Industrial Cooperation, signed on December 16, 1999 in Abidjan;
• Agreement establishing a Ivorian-Beninese Joint Cooperation Commission signed on  February 27,1992, in Abidjan, (the last session, the 3rd of its kind, was held in Cotonou on May 15 and 16, 2014).

In addition, other Cooperation Agreements were signed on April 17, 2014, by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two (02) countries aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in the following areas:

• the military and technical sector;
• national solidarity;
• the consolidation of the family, the advancement of women and the protection of children;
• microfinance;
• youth and women's employment;
• information and communication;
• the implementation of the program for the application of the Cultural Convention for the years 2014-2016;
• air transport;
• education, technical education and vocational training;
• higher education and scientific research;
• the creation of a joint committee for monitoring and evaluating decisions and recommendation of the Great Joint Cooperation Commission.

In addition to the signing of these agreements, the two (02) Heads of State reaffirmed their willingness to combine their efforts to better manage common threats such as terrorism that are obstacles to economic growth and stability in the sub-region.

A. The main products exported are: fuels, minerals, mineral oils, bituminous materials, mineral waxes.

B. The main imported products are: palm oils, premium fuel, heavy fuel oil, fuel, insecticides other than packaged for retail sale.

 Sources : DGE-DPPSE

Sources : (General Directorate of Economy) DGE-DPCEI (Department of Promotion and International Economic Cooperation)

• The value of bilateral trade reached 66,9 billion of CFAF in 2022, compared to 33,1 billion of CFAF in 2022.
• Over the period 2018-2022, the average value of Ivorian exports is estimated at 41 billion of CFAF / year against 6.26 billion of CFAF / year for imports.
• Over this period, the trade balance is in surplus for Cote d’Ivoire.