Benin and Cuba restart trade partnership through Cotonou chamber talks

Benin and Cuba have reopened their economic dialogue with a firm commitment to revive commercial ties. The decision emerged from a diplomatic meeting in Cotonou between Cuba’s ambassador, Denisse Amaro Salabarría, and leaders of the Benin Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI Benin), where both sides pledged to actively reinvigorate their economic and trade exchanges.

A partnership rooted in shared history

The two nations share a long-standing friendship built on cultural closeness and consistent South-South solidarity. On the institutional side, the renewed push follows a 2002 framework agreement signed between their respective chambers of commerce. Now, as global conditions shift, Cotonou and Havana aim to modernise this bilateral axis and turn it into a practical driver of growth.

Priority sectors for joint ventures

During the discussions, Cuban diplomats highlighted recent economic reforms on the Caribbean island, opening the door to fresh opportunities for Beninese investors and entrepreneurs. Several priority areas were identified for future partnerships:

• Agro-industry and food production
• Renewable energy
• Tourism and cultural engineering
• Biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry, fields where Cuba has globally recognised expertise

To move these ambitions forward, Beninese companies were invited to take part in the Havana International Fair (FIHAV), a major trade hub for the Caribbean region.

Benin as a strategic gateway to West Africa

For its part, the CCI Benin delegation stressed the country’s geostrategic position as an essential logistics and commercial platform in the West African sub-region. Pointing to the ongoing modernisation of the Autonomous Port of Cotonou, the Beninese side encouraged Cuban economic operators to use Benin as an entry point to West African markets.

The meeting marks the starting point of a roadmap focused on regular follow-up of the commitments made, sealing the effective relaunch of a historic partnership oriented towards the future.

By Pierre Tchuente — Security and Policy Analyst