Benin
India and Benin have friendly ties characterized by democracy and secularism. Benin as a shining example of a tolerant, progressive multi-ethnic and multi-religious society with a multiparty democracy is a natural partner to India, being the world's largest democracy.
Cooperation to tackle the challenge of COVID-19 Pandemic
- India donated a 6 tonne-consignment of essential medicines, including HCQS and antibiotics, to the Republic of Benin. During the Covid-19 pandemic, a total of 293 stranded Indian nationals in Benin have been repatriated to India in 3 flights.
- India sent consignment of 1,44,000 doses of Covishield vaccine from the Serum Institute of India (SII), under the Covax scheme of GAVI. It is the first consignment of Covid-19 vaccines to reach the Republic of Benin.
Capacity Building & Other Exchanges
- ITEC/e-ITEC: India has been supporting Benin’s efforts in Capacity building under Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme. India offers 20 training slots under ITEC to Benin annually. 10 Beninese officials attended short to medium terms training programmes in diverse subjects ranging from IT to Parliamentary studies. Further various e-ITEC slot has been utilized by Beninese nationals for different training programmes.
- India has been offering additional training programmes to Benin in diverse subjects ranging from Agriculture to Hydro power. Benin officials were trained under IAFS-III Programmes. A Beninese diplomat attended the 65th Professional Course for Foreign Diplomats (PCFD) in Foreign Service Institute, New Delhi. Every year there are 5-10 scholarships offered by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) for Beninese nationals to pursue undergraduate / post graduate courses in India.
Development Cooperation (Grants/ LoCs/ Assistance)
- India announced a Line of Credit (LoC) of US$ 15 million for Benin Two grants of one million dollars each for mutually identified projects in Health & Education sectors as well as setting up of an IT Centre for Excellence and a Centre of Demonstration of Technology (both on grant basis) were also agreed to. Five bilateral agreements with Benin including an MOU were concluded with Benin on setting up an Information Technology Centre of Excellence (CETI) in the Republic of Benin.
- A Line of Credit of US$ 15 million for agricultural equipment was provided by India. Two grants of $1 million each for mutually identified projects in Health and Education sectors have also been utilized. From the Lines of Credit offered by India to ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), Benin availed the following LoCs: (i) US $18.8 million LoC facility for first phase of rural electrification project, (ii) the second phase of Rural Electrification in Benin through LOC of US$20 million has also been completed, and (iii) through an LoC of US $10 million, procurement process is ongoing for acquisition of material and medico-technical equipment for the health facilities in Benin.
- India had donated 100 tractors each, 4 Tata buses in July 2010 and 60 ambulances to Benin. Another Line of Credit of $ 15 million for tractor and agricultural machinery assembly plant was provided. Another LoC of US$ 42.61 million equivalent has been extended for upgradation of water supply schemes in 69 villages in Benin.
- Benin received support from India under the Cotton Technical Assistance Programme (TAP).
- Benin is part of the Pan African e-Network project. An MoU on e-VBAB (Tele-education and Tele-medicine) was signed between the Republic of Benin and TCIL,
- A soft Line of Credit of USD 100 million has been extended to Benin for its national priority projects.
- In December 2021 assistance of US$ 300000 was given from I-UNDP fund to project Promoting Youth and Women employment through agriculture diversification.
