On 11 and 12 September 2025, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), in collaboration with the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Employment Promotion and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), organized a national workshop taking place at the Golden Tulip Le Diplomate Hotel in Cotonou.
Held within the framework of the UNCTAD project “Enhancing the capacity of African vulnerable countries in adopting policy incentives and innovative instruments for the participation of SMEs in regional value chains”, the workshop aimed to launch the project in Benin and validate the preliminary findings of the national impact study on the participation of Benin’s SMEs in regional value chains.
The workshop was opened by Mr. Titus Oladayo Osundina, UNDP Resident Representative, and Ms. Opportune Natabou, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of SMEs and Employment Promotion. Mr. Osundina emphasized the centrality of SMEs, representing 90% of Benin’s economic fabric and 70% of jobs, and highlighted persistent challenges related to market access, exports, financing, and digitalization. He also stressed the importance of integrating coastal value chains and strengthening women’s economic empowerment and environmental sustainability.
Ms. Natabou reaffirmed the government’s vision of positioning SMEs as the drivers of economic growth, aligning with the AfCFTA’s market potential of 1.3 billion consumers and $250 billion in intra-African trade. She underscored the importance of the study as a reference tool to identify opportunities, constraints, and strategic niches to support SME integration in regional and continental value chains. The study identified key comparative advantages for Benin’s SMEs in sectors such as:
- Coton and derivatives, as Benin’s leading export;
- Steel and iron, with strong regional demand;
- Pineapple and agro-food products, offering niche opportunities in value-added processing.
Over 20 participants from public institutions, private sector actors, SME associations, and development partners engaged in working groups. Main recommendations included:
- Strengthening the institutional and legal framework for SMEs, including recognition of the SME promotion agency (ADTPME);
- Supporting service sectors such as transport, digital services, tourism, and financial services;
- Expanding innovative financing mechanisms and guarantee funds for SMEs;
- Establishing an intra-African trade observatory and rationalizing fiscal incentives;
- Enhancing SME managerial and technical capacities, particularly in business planning, marketing, certification, and quality standards.
The outcomes of the workshop will inform the finalization of the national report and guide the design of future technical assistance and training programmes to strengthen Benin’s SMEs.
Representatives from UNCTAD, UNDP and participants from the government and private sector during the national workshop on enhancing SMEs’ integration into regional value chains, held at the Golden Tulip le Diplomate on 11 and 12 September 2025.
Benin has experienced strong economic growth in recent years, with GDP growth rate reaching 7.5 percent in 2024, supported by vibrant agricultural and industrial performance. The country is committed to regional integration through frameworks such as the Economic Community of West African States and the West African Economic and Monetary Union, which provide opportunities to expand trade and foster deeper value chain linkages.
According to the country’s National Policy for the Promotion and Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (PNPDPME 2025–2034), small and medium-sized enterprises represent more than 90 percent of businesses and generate between 60 and 70 percent of jobs in Benin. Yet, persistent challenges, such as limited access to finance, weak technological capacity, and the dominance of informality, continue to constrain their competitiveness and participation in regional trade.
To address these obstacles, UNCTAD, in collaboration with the Ministry of SMEs and Employment Promotion and the United Nations Development Programme, has launched a project to strengthen SME integration into regional value chains. The initiative supports governments and private-sector actors with policy incentives, innovative tools, and digital solutions to enhance productivity and competitiveness within regional markets.
As part of this effort, a national project launch and validation workshop will take place on 11–12 September 2025 at the Golden Tulip Le Diplomate in Cotonou, Benin. The workshop will present, review and validate the findings of UNCTAD’s national impact study on Benin, which highlights priority sectors, structural bottlenecks, and actionable recommendations for policy and institutional support. The study identifies three strategic sectors with particularly high potential for SMEs, including pineapple and fruit processing, cotton and derivatives, and iron and steel.
The two-day workshop will bring together around 35 to 40 participants from government institutions, the private sector, academia, development partners, and UN agencies. It will cover thematic discussions, presentations and recommendations to refine the project’s implementation in Benin. Participation is by invitation only.
