Republic of Benin
Capital: Porto Novo HDI: 0.480 (166th)
Language: French
GDP (PPP): $22.542 billion
Currency: West African Franc
Population: 10,872,829
The Republic of Benin and formerly Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. A majority of the population live on its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin, part of the Gulf of Guinea in the northernmost tropical portion of the Atlantic Ocean. The capital of Benin is Porto-Novo, but the seat of government is in Cotonou, the country’s largest city and economic capital. Benin covers an area of 114,763 square kilometers and its population in 2015 was estimated to be approximately 10.88 million. Benin is a tropical, sub-Saharan nation, highly dependent on agriculture, with substantial employment and income arising from subsistence farming.
The official language of Benin is French. However, indigenous languages such as Fon and Yoruba are commonly spoken. The largest religious group in Benin is Roman Catholicism, followed closely by Islam, Vodun and Protestantism. Benin is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, La Francophonie, the Community of Sahel-Saharan States, the African Petroleum Producers Association and the Niger Basin Authority. A Marxist–Leninist state called the People’s Republic of Benin existed between 1975 and 1990. In 1991, it was replaced by the current multi-party Republic of Benin.
RESEARCH
Economic Overview
-
BENIN – ECONOMIC OVERVIEW & TRADE ANALYSIS
http://www.dedc.gov.ae/StudiesAndResearchDocument/MTR020072016BENIN.pdf
Real GDP growth is projected at 5.5 to 6% in 2016. Growth in 2012 was 5%, and steadily increased to 7% percent in 2013, before decelerating in 2014 to 6.5% and then to back to 5% in 2015, mainly
-
Benin Economy 2016, CIA World Factbook
http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/benin/benin_economy.html
The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade.
Industry Trends & Business Climate
-
Facts About the Republic of Benin : Official Document
http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Country_Specific/benin_EDoc.html
Industry accounts for only a small percentage of the gross domestic product. Fishing industry meets only local consumption, so does textile industry.
-
2014 Investment Climate Statement – Benin
http://www.state.gov/e/eb/rls/othr/ics/2014/227130.htm
Dated (2014) summary of the business climate in Benin
Establishing a Presence
-
Doing Business in Benin – World Bank Group
http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/benin#starting-a-business
This World Bank site explains the process of starting a new company in Benin but does not address the types of companies that can be formed
-
Starting a Business in Benin
http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/benin/starting-a-business
This site provides a detailed summary of the bureaucratic and legal hurdles faced by entrepreneurs wishing to incorporate and register a new firm in Benin.
-
Benin company registration
http://www.healyconsultants.com/benin-company-registration/
Setting up and registering a company in Benin is time consuming and can take up to four months
Taxes
-
Tax Rate In Benin
http://contractortaxation.com/Benin/Tax-Rate-In-Benin
Because individual earnings can be so different, the income tax rates in Benin vary from 35 to 35 percent according to your level of income.
-
Benin Sales Tax Rate | 2014-2016
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/benin/sales-tax-rate
The Sales Tax Rate in Benin stands at 18 percent.
-
Paying Taxes in Benin – Doing Business
http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/benin/paying-taxes
This World Bank site provides a table of the tax obligations in Benin including VAT
-
Benin Corporate Tax Rate by Year
http://www.multpl.com/benin-corporate-tax-rate/table/by-year
The corporate tax rate in Benin has been 63.3% since 2013.
-
Paying Taxes in Benin – Doing Business
http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/benin/paying-taxes
This World Bank site provides a table of the tax obligations in Benin
Visas
-
Visa policy of Benin – Wikipedia
Visa policy of Benin - Wikipedia
This site lists the 18 countries of origin for which a visa is not required
-
Benin – State
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/benin.html
See “Entry, Exit & Visa Requirements” on this site
Infrastructure
-
Benin – Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband
https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Benin-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses
Although the telecom market in Benin continues to face considerable hurdles given the country’s poor fixed-line infrastructure, recent developments suggest that the sector will be transformed in coming years.
-
BeninTelecom
http://benintelecom.es/home.html
BeninTelecom is a broadband operator in La Gomera , Internet access services and high-speed data transmission for both residential and businesss
-
Benin Transportation – Taxi, Train, Bus & Airport Tips
https://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Africa/Benin/Transportation-Benin-TG-C-1.html
55 tips on getting to and getting around Benin from real travelers and locals.
-
Getting around in Benin – Transportation
http://journeymart.com/de/benin/getting-around.aspx
In Benin tourists can find common forms of transport such as car, bus, train and taxi.
Employer Obligations
-
Benin Employment & Labor Law News Topics
http://employment.einnews.com/category/employment-labor-law/benin
This site provides links to current labor topics in Benin
-
Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor – Benin
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/benin
In 2014, Benin made a moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of childlabor.
Culture/Living
-
Benin Climate
http://www.benin.climatemps.com/
The annual average temperature is 26.3 degrees Celsius (79.3 degrees Fahrenheit).
-
Benin travel advice – GOVUK
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/benin/safety-and-security
Latest travel advice for Benin including safety and security, entry requirements, travel warnings and health
-
Travel Advice and Advisories for Benin
https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/benin
This site is an up to date travel advisory for Benin from the Canadian government
-
Education in Benin
http://www.benineducation.info/profile
The education system of Benin is based on French education model and follows 6 4 3 approach. This means 13 years of school education is the minimum requirement when youth gets access to college for higher education.
-
International Schools in Benin
http://www.expat-quotes.com/guides/benin/education/international-schools-in-benin.htm
This list contains the most popular international and bilingual schools in Benin: nurseryschools, primary and secondary (high) schools
-
Benin Public Holidays 2016
http://holidayyear.com/holidays/Benin
Benin holidays 2016, bank holidays, national holidays, officialholiday calendar, religious festivals and celebrations for the year 2016
-
Cost of Living in Benin
http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Benin
Average prices of more than 40 products and services in Benin. Prices of restaurants, food, transportation, utilities and housing are included.
-
Cost of Living in Benin. 2016
https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/country/benin
Cost of living comparisons in more than 1,600 cities all over the world. Up-to-date cost of living comparisons!
-
Benin – Culture, Customs & Etiquette
http://guide.culturecrossing.net/basics_business_student.php?id=23
Guide to travel, doing business, and studying in Benin – culture, greetings, gestures,etiquette, protocol, negotiations, gift-giving, and more.
-
Benin Etiquette | International Dining Etiquette
http://etiquettescholar.com/dining_etiquette/table-etiquette/africa_west_dinner_etiquette/beninese.html
Dining etiquette in Benin
-
Benin climate: when to go to Benin
http://www.travelguide-en.org/benin-climate/#
Benin can be divided into two climate zones. The north is tropical and the south is sub-equatorial. This site includes an annual temperature table
-
Benin Public Holidays 2016 and 2017
http://africapublicholidays.com/benin/
Discover the complete list of Benin’s public holidays for 2016 and 2017
-
CIA: The World Factbook: Benin
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bn.html
See “People and Society” on this CIA site
-
Demographics of Benin – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Benin
The demographics of Benin include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of
Trade
-
Customs: Regulations, Export-Import
https://benin.visahq.com/customs/
Benin Customs regulations and procedures for importing and exporting goods at border.
-
OEC – Benin (BEN) Exports, Imports
http://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/profile/country/ben/
Import/Export data for Benin
-
WTO | Benin – Member information
https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/countries_e/benin_e.htm
This site provides key information on Benin’s participation in the WTO. Benin has been a member of WTO since 22 February 1996 and a member of GATT since 12 September 1963.
-
African Countries Trade Agreements
http://focusafrica.gov.in/Trade_Agreements_Africa.html
This site describes the trade agreements among several African countries including Benin
Housing and Rentals
-
Benin Accommodations
https://www.tripadvisor.com/SmartDeals-g293764-Benin-Hotel-Deals.html
A listing of hotels in Benin
-
Benin Hotels – TripAdvisor
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g293764-Benin-Hotels.html
Find 1,204 traveler reviews, candid photos, and prices for 30 hotels in Benin.
Travel
-
Benin Travel Guide and Travel Information
http://www.worldtravelguide.net/benin
Expert Benin travel guide including detailed information about everything you need to know about Benin.
-
Benin Travel Guide – VirtualTourist
https://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Africa/Benin/TravelGuide-Benin.html
444 real travel reviews, tips, and photos from real travelers and locals inBenin at VirtualTourist.
NETWORKING
Connect With Others
Benin Forums
This forum is empty.
-
- Forum
- Topics
- Freshness
-
- Advice and Tips
- 0
- No Topics
- Business Guidance
- 0
- No Topics
- Expat Connect
- 0
- No Topics
- Networking
- 0
- No Topics
- Travel, Lodging, Dining, and More
- 0
- No Topics
Oh bother! No topics were found here!
You must be logged in to create new topics.