Benin/Launch of the 7th Annual “Buy Local Month”: The Government Takes a Step Toward Industrial and Economic Sovereignty

The Beninese government is injecting new momentum into the promotion of domestic production. This Thursday, October 1, 2026, marks the official kickoff of the 7th edition of “Local Consumption Month,” highlighted by a strategic field visit by the Minister of Domestic Trade and Economic Formalization, Ms. Shadiya Alimatou ASSOUMAN, to the heart of the Glo-Djigbé (GDIZ) industrial hub. This visit underscores the shift toward heavy industry and the development of Benin’s natural mineral resources.

Since its inception, “Local Consumption Month” has established itself as the premier event celebrating national craftsmanship. However, for the 2026 edition, the government intends to go beyond the traditional framework of agri-food promotion to encompass the country’s entire productive and industrial sector.

By holding the official launch at a construction materials manufacturing facility in the heart of the GDIZ, government officials are sending a strong message: “Made in Benin” now extends to manufactured goods, capital goods, and high-value-added mineral processing. “The concept of ‘Buy Local’ means consuming what we produce, but it also—and above all—means consuming what nature has given us by creating value within our territory,” emphasized Minister Shadiya Alimatou ASSOUMAN.

The focus of this 7th edition highlights the direct link between the sovereign exploitation of the country’s raw resources and local economic development. By processing materials extracted from Benin’s subsoil—such as clay, kaolin, and granite—locally, the industrial facilities based in Benin demonstrate the viability of the industrialization model promoted by the government.

This vertical integration approach makes it possible to:

• Build robust national value chains, linking the extractive sector, engineering, and the processing industry.
• Strengthen the creation of direct and indirect jobs, while promoting the transfer of skills to benefit Beninese youth.
• Reduce dependence on imports by offering local alternatives that meet international quality standards to construction industry stakeholders and households.

Beyond the communication efforts carried out throughout the month of October, the government’s initiative aims for a systemic change in consumer behavior. The ultimate goal is to make buying locally a patriotic reflex and a permanent driver of economic stability.

Through regional fairs, information campaigns, and industrial site visits scheduled throughout the country, the government is reminding the public that every purchase of a product made in Benin constitutes a direct investment in the national economy. By recognizing the efforts of the men and women who produce goods on Beninese soil, the government reaffirms its determination to make “Made in Benin” the sustainable engine of inclusive growth.

Source: www.gouv.bj/