Togo-Benin: Agricultural entrepreneurship, the two countries chart a new course for regional integration
From December 10 to 12, 2024, Grand-Popo, Benin, hosted the first meeting of the Regional Agricultural Market Integration Program (PRIMA). Spearheaded by the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Togo and Benin (CCI-Togo and CCI-Benin), the event underscored the deepening agricultural collaboration between the two neighboring nations.
Under the theme « Agricultural Entrepreneurship in the Corridors of Benin and Togo: Current Status, Challenges, and Opportunities, » the gathering provided a platform for stakeholders to assess the state of agricultural entrepreneurship, address existing challenges, and explore strategies for advancing sustainable family farming and cross-border trade.
Both chambers reaffirmed their commitment to fostering closer ties to invigorate agricultural markets within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This initiative is supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), which offers both technical and financial backing.
Françoise Assogba, Secretary General of Benin’s Ministry of Agriculture, lauded the program as a transformative step toward integrating the agricultural markets of Togo and Benin.
She highlighted the critical role of bilateral synergies in creating a resilient and prosperous agricultural future.
The outcomes of this meeting aim to:
- Strengthen the interconnection of agricultural markets in both countries,
- Enhance the livelihoods of small-scale farmers, and
- Foster economic growth with a focus on regional solidarity.
This inaugural event paves the way for a series of strategic collaborations between Togo and Benin, reinforcing their leadership roles within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and setting a strong foundation for regional agricultural integration.
Kodjovi Makafui
