Projects in Benin
WBI development activities in Benin are limited to investments in the local cashew processing industry.
The joint venture Afokantan Benin Cashew S.A. is set up in 2007 together with the Beninese investment company Kenza Investissement, Afokantan is a cashew processing unit located in Tchaourou (600 km North of economic capital Cotonou) with the capacity to process 1.500 MTon of RCN into 300 MTon cashew nut kernels.
This company is set up to counter the trend of exports of raw cashew nuts to Asia, without any local value addition. At current the factory employs approx 300 employees, which next to a decent salary get a free meal at the factory, free use of health care centre and insurances.
Factsheet Benin: | |
| Geography: | |
| Area: | 116,622 Km2 |
| Capital: | Porto Novo |
| Largest city: | Cotonou |
| People: | |
| Population: | 8,79 milion |
| Official language: | French |
| Local languages: | Fon, Yoruba |
| Religions: | Animist (35%), Christian (35%), Muslim (20%), Other (10%) |
| Political: | |
| Government: | Multiparty democracy |
| President: | Yayi Boni |
| Economy: | |
| GDP (2009): | $ 6,4 billion |
| GDP (2009): | 3,20% |
| Per capita GDP: | $1.500 |
| Exports: | Cotton, cashews, shea butter, textiles, palm products. |
| Imports: | Foodstuffs, tobacca, petroleum products, energy and capital. |
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