USEFUL BUSINESS INFORMATION ON BENIN

1. Country Brief:

A. Introduction -  Benin is located in West Africa and covers a land area Of 112,622 Sq. km. and constitutes a long stretch of hand  perpendicular to the Coast of the Gulf of Guinea. It is bordered on the North by Burkina Faso and the Republic of Niger, on the East  by the Federal Republic of Nigeria and on the West by the Republic of Togo. With a 124 kilometers long coastline, it stretches North  to South some 672 kilometers while its breath extends 324 kilometers at the evident point. It is above two third the Size of Portugal.

B. Climate -  The mean temperature is between 77oF and 82oF (25o to 28oC).

C. Geographical Area - Land area: 42,710 sq mi (110,619 sq km); total area: 43,483 sq mi (112,620 sq km).

D. Language - French (official), Fon, Yoruba, tribal languages.

E. Currency With Exchange Rate - 1 XOF = 0.00209328 USD or, 1 USD = 477.718 XOF.

F. Population - 8,078,314 ( 2007 est.)

G. Major Cities - Parakou, Djougou.

2. Transportation:

A. Railway - total: 578 km (2004).

B. Road - total: 6,787 km; paved: 1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways); unpaved: 5,430 km (1999 est.).

C. Airports - 5 (2004 est.).

D. Waterways - 150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2004).

E. Sea ports - Cotonou.

3. Economy:

A. Major Manufacturing -

B. Major Export - $826.9 million f.o.b. (2005 est.): cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa.

C. Import - $1.043 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products.

D. Major Industry - textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement.

E. Trade balance:

5. Trade Associations, Chamber of Commerce, Trade shows and Exhibitions in Benin:

Major Trade Associations

Chambers of Commerce

Major Trade Shows

5. Useful links:

Benin Importers, Dealers of Japanese Used Cars, Construction Machinery & Auto Parts