JAPAN and the WORLD Magazine JULY ISSUE 2015 #Issue 12 | Page 46

BENIN
BILATERAL TALKS
NIGER
BURKINA FASO
BENIN
TOGO
NIGERIA
Porto Novo
Cotonou
H.E MR. RUFIN ZOMAHOUN
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of the Republic of Benin
駐日ベナン共和国大使 ゾマホン ルファン
of the Republic of Benin in Japan, makes a
great effort to promote bilateral relations
by engaging many Beninese citizens
through the IFE Foundation, a Non-Profit
Organization that he established in Benin’s
economic capital, Cotonou. Thanks to this
foundation’s activities, Japanese volunteers
have the opportunity to go to Benin and
teach Japanese language, culture and history
in “Takeshi Nihongo Gakko”. The Japanese
language school opened in 2003, and is the
only free Japanese language facility in Africa.
Additionally, around fifty students from
Benin came to Japan thanks to scholarship
programs to study agriculture, medicine,
technology and communication in the
faculties of many prestigious universities such
as Tokyo University, Yamagata University,
Tsukuba University and Kumamoto
University.
Benin has an Industrial Free Zone (IFZ)
where the investors benefit from a number of
custom and tax incentives. To be authorized
to establish itself in the IFZ, a company must
fulfill the following conditions:
Export at least 65 percent of its annual
production
Guarantee employment of Beninese
citizens
Training of Beninese citizens
Utilization of local raw materials
The most profitable investment sectors
are cotton, palm oil, cashew nut, shea
butter, pineapple and fishery. Other
viable investments include textile, mineral
resources, hydrocarbons and electric energy.
INVESTMENT
Benin is an important commercial crossroad
in West Africa, located on the Gulf of Guinea.
Its largest city, Cotonou is an economic and
transportation hub. Transshipment takes
a significant place in the general traffic of
the Port of Cotonou, which is willing to take
it upon itself to function as both a transit
and regional port. The port facilitates
transshipping for Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso,
Chad and Niger. In addition to the port, a free
trade zone was established inside the city to
be used by the landlocked Saharan States.
46 // JULY 2015
The most profitable
investment sectors are cotton,
palm oil, cashew nut, shea
butter, pineapple and fishery.
Other viable investments
include textile, mineral
resources, hydrocarbons and
electric energy.
E s t a bl i sh e d i n 1962, t h e Chamber of
Commerce and Industry of Benin (CCIB)
helps potential businesses to develop
professional networks, and provides key
information and guidance about existing
investment opportunities.
TOURISM
With a good infrastructure, a wide range of
accommodation options and also ecotourism
initiatives that offer travellers a chance to
delve deeper into Beninese life, Benin is a
wonderful tourist destination.
Beninese culture is as rich and diverse as
its landscape. With strong religious roots
preserving most of the traditions, Beninese
culture is certainly one of the most unique
and interesting in Africa. An important part
of Benin is the VOODOO animistic religion,
which deals with healing and rejuvenating
talismans. The oral tradition is still very
much alive, hence the absence of Beninese
literature, even though the culture prides
itself of its ancient stories and folklore.
The tourism sector in Benin has enormous
potential. The development of touristic
activities provides a boon for investors
seeking new growth opportunities in all
sectors.
今
後5年間の目標は経済成長を少なくとも
8%増にまで加速し、
投資率を現在の19%
から28%にまで引き上げることです。歴史
上一度も内乱が起きていない、安定した平和な民
主主義国家ということが特に評価され、ベナンは