The Minister of State in charge of Planning and Development, Mr. Abdoulaye BIO TCHANE and the Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr. Romuald WADAGNI, were in the premises of the World Bank in Cotonou on Wednesday, October 30, 2019, to formalize the opening of the offices of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member entity of the World Bank Group.

At the opening of the ceremony, IFC Vice-President for the Middle East and Africa, Mr. Sergio PIMENTA, said he was honored to make this opening, six months after his first visit to Benin. For him, the International Finance Corporation has been working in the country since 1999 and has invested more than $ 300 million over the past ten years, without having a presence there. Now, she has ruled to settle in Cotonou to work with private sector companies, various partners, civil society and the Government of Benin. Mr. Sergio PIMENTA also indicated that the promotion of the private sector by the Government of President Patrice TALON being a reality, the International Finance Corporation wants to further support the various reforms underway.

In his speech, Minister of State Abdoulaye BIO TCHANE said he wanted to celebrate the opening of the offices of the International Finance Corporation in Cotonou, because it comes right in the middle of the reforms that are being deployed in favor of the private sector.

For him, Benin’s four-point rise in the Doing Business ranking is encouraging. This is progress that must be underlined, but it will be necessary to go a little further. He found the inauguration of the offices of the International Finance Corporation as an opportunity to be seized by private sector actors.

Following the two interventions, the epitaph of the International Finance Corporation was unveiled and the family photo brought the ceremony to an end.