Benin

Driving through Benin, Cotton appears to be the only intensive economic activity. Indeed, cotton accounts for 40% of GDP.

Although a very corrupt country, Benin is a constitutional multi-party democracy and, despite a history of military-rule, democracy is firmly established and widely accepted as the ground rule of political life.

Foreign investment in Benin has for the most part entailed the purchase of interests in privatised companies by investors from Lebanon, India, Germany, and France. Foreign investment is reportedly subject to government approval, and part-Beninese ownership of privatised companies is prioritised by the government.