The Minister of State in charge of the Economy and Finance and his colleague in charge of culture, proceeded on Thursday, June 3, 2021 in Cotonou, to the signing of a financing agreement with France represented by its Ambassador in Benin and the Director General of the French Development Agency (AFD). It is within the framework of the project to create the museum of the epic of the Amazons and the kings of Danhomè and to enhance the palatial site of Abomey, implemented by the Director General of the National Agency for the Promotion of Heritage and of Tourism (ANPT) with the technical support of Expertise France and the French Ministry of Culture. 

In his presentation of the four components of the project, the Director General of the ANPT, Edmond TOLLI underlined that it reflects the vision of the Head of State to develop tourism and the cultural and historical heritage. Funded as a grant and loan by the French Development Agency (AFD), to the tune of twenty-two point ninety-five (22.95) billion CFA francs, or 35 million Euros, this project will allow the enhancement of the tourist site of Abomey thanks to the rehabilitation of four royal palaces and the construction of a new museum to international standards where works inherited from the kingdom of Dahomey will be exhibited. 

The Ambassador of France to Benin, Marc VIZY underlined that this flagship project of the Government’s Action Program, also represents a major operation of AFD’s recent mandate in the area of ​​creative and cultural industries and confirms the France’s commitment alongside the Government of Benin in this sector. He reassured of the strong mobilization of the French teams alongside the Beninese party for the implementation of the project.  

In his speech, the Minister in charge of culture Jean-Michel ABIMBOLA stressed that this project will also meet the challenge of making tourism an economic development sector that creates wealth and jobs, through its various components. “Our eyes are now, and more than ever, turned to the continuation and acceleration of the construction works of the Museum of the Epic of the Amazons and of the Kings of Danxomè and the enhancement of the palatial site of Abomey, which constitutes the final destination of cultural property returned by France after their temporary stay in Ouidah at the Portuguese Fort ”he added.  

An emblematic point of the Franco-Beninese partnership, the project to create the Museum of the Epic of the Amazons and the Kings of Danhomè and to promote the Palatial site of Abomey, intervenes in the dynamic of the return of cultural goods from Benin. Thus, for its implementation with the financial support of AFD, the Beninese Minister of the Economy and Finance, Mr. Romuald WADAGNI, invited the teams of both parties to work expeditiously. He reassured the French side of the will of the Government of President Patrice TALON to continue to integrate the sustainability component in the implementation of all projects for the effect of sustainable development.