BDR 2026 set to open with global investors in focus

The Republic of Benin has launched the Benin Deal Room 2026 (BDR 2026), a government-backed investment forum aimed at connecting investors with more than 20 public-sector projects valued at between 2 billion and 3 billion US dollars. The event will take place in Cotonou from 16 to 18 September 2026.

The initiative was announced during a briefing held on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, at the Embassy of the Republic of Benin in Abuja. The event brought together ambassadors and diplomatic representatives from countries under the embassy’s jurisdiction, alongside business leaders, investors and other stakeholders. The gathering marked the start of Benin’s campaign to attract investment into projects across key sectors of its economy.

The forum is being organised by Benin’s Directorate General for Economic Attractiveness and Diplomacy (DGADE), under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and Foreign Trade in charge of African Integration, Industry and the Promotion of Private Investment (MTCE), the Embassy of Benin, and the Investment and Export Promotion Agency (APIEx).

Other institutions supporting the initiative include the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Real Estate and Urban Development Company (SIMAU), the Glo-Djigbé Special Economic Zone (GDIZ), the Investment and Industry Promotion Company (SIPI), and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Benin (CCI-Benin). CMD Tourism and Trade Enterprises Ltd is serving as the implementing partner.

Speaking during the briefing, Director General of APIEx, Eric Akouté, said Benin wants to strengthen economic links with Nigeria by creating more opportunities for businesses in both countries.

“We want to create business relationships, business partnerships with Nigerian businesses,” he said. “What we can do for each other is to try to connect. We have come to promote our country and see how we can do business with them.”

The organisers said the forum is designed to move investment discussions beyond networking by presenting projects that have completed a readiness assessment before being introduced to investors.

Each project in the investment pipeline will include information on its sponsor, sector, funding requirement, capital expenditure, stage of development, permits, revenue model, and environmental and social risk assessment. According to the organisers, the aim is to help investors carry out due diligence more efficiently and move qualifying projects towards financial close within six months of the event.

Chief Executive Officer of CMD Tourism and Trade Enterprises, Cecile Mambo, said the forum also seeks to strengthen formal trade between Nigeria and Benin.

She noted that a large share of commercial activity between both countries still takes place outside formal channels and said BDR 2026 offers an opportunity to encourage structured investment and business partnerships.

The organisers also pointed to the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone as one of the platforms creating opportunities in agro-processing, manufacturing and export supply chains. They believe these sectors will attract interest from Nigerian companies and development finance institutions looking to expand their presence across West Africa.

Also speaking at the event, Dr Aliyu Idi Hong, Second Deputy President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the long-standing relationship between Nigeria and Benin. He said stronger economic cooperation could create opportunities for businesses in both countries while supporting regional trade and investment.

The Benin Deal Room will present a curated pipeline of pre-vetted Beninese sovereign infrastructure projects, technically assessed and structured by PAC Capital, the Lead Transaction Advisory Partner. To support investment decisions beyond the event, a dedicated 60-day Post-Event Transaction Desk will provide ongoing assistance through due diligence, negotiations and transaction progression. The Benin Deal Room has been structured to bring together the three key stakeholders required to accelerate investment transactions: investors, project sponsors, and strategic partners.

Qualified investors will have complimentary access to engage directly with investment-ready projects, government representatives and project owners.

Project owners will have the opportunity to showcase eligible projects, connect with prospective investors and participate in curated business meetings and technical sessions designed to advance investment transactions.

Strategic partners may participate in the Benin Deal Room through bespoke partnership tiers, including Strategic Investor Partner, VIP Sponsor, and Anchor Sponsor, each designed to deliver premium visibility, privileged access, and high-level engagement with senior investors and key institutional stakeholders.

Following the event, organisers plan to provide qualified investors with access to project data rooms, dedicated transaction teams and a 60-day progress tracker. Projects that reach the term sheet stage will also receive an exclusivity period to support negotiations. The organisers are targeting at least five signed memoranda of understanding by March 2027.

Speaking at the Abuja briefing, Ambassador of Tunisia to Benin with residence in Abuja, Mohsen Anitit, described the initiative as a structured approach to attracting investment.

“Benin is not waiting for investment,” he said. “Benin is organising it, structuring it, and presenting it to the world with clarity and confidence.”

As preparations continue ahead of the September gathering in Cotonou, attention is now turning to investor participation. Organisers have invited Nigerian institutional investors, development finance institutions and companies to request the investor brief, indicate their sectors of interest and identify preferred project opportunities before the forum opens. They hope the discussions that begin in Abuja will lead to investment agreements that support economic growth in Benin and strengthen business ties across the region.