The 7th edition of the Benin Investment Forum (BIF) kicked off this Thursday in Cotonou, the economic capital of Benin. A now-established fixture on the West African economic calendar, the 2025 event has brought together around 400 business leaders from 30 countries.
Held under the theme “Choose Benin”, this year’s forum highlights the investment opportunities available in the country, which is increasingly viewed as a rising economic destination in West Africa.
In her opening address, Benin’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Alimatou Shadiya Assouman, praised the forum’s evolution since its launch in 2018, calling it an “essential platform for investors and project developers.”
“Benin has recorded strong economic growth, exceeding 6% annually in recent years,” she noted, emphasizing the forum’s role in fostering direct connections between economic stakeholders.
Recent figures confirm this momentum: according to the World Bank, foreign direct investment (FDI) as a share of GDP in Benin rose from 1.1% in 2020 to 2.2% in 2023, signaling growing international interest in the country’s market.
