Find below answers to the frequently asked questions related to GDIZ, Benin, labor availability, social infrastructure, available services, incentive policies and more.
What is Benin?
Benin is a country located in West Africa, bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. The country extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, where its capital Lomé is located. Benin covers 57,000 square kilometres (22,008 square miles), with a population of approximately 7.9 million. Benin is a tropical, sub-Saharan nation, whose economy depends highly on agriculture, with a climate that provides good growing seasons. The official language in Benin is French. Learn more about Benin here.
What are the natural resources in Benin?
Benin has rich deposits of iron, chromite, manganese, bauxite, phosphates and limestone. Abundant mineral resources of phosphates and limestone are found along coastal regions, while other mineral deposits are located inland.
Benin also enjoys abundant agricultural resources like cotton, maize, soybeans, ginger, cashew, sesame, tomato, cassava, sorghum, rice, millets, coffee and cocoa, fruits like pineapple, mango, coconut. Learn more about Benin’s key industry sectors here.
GDIZ
What is GDIZ?
In brief, GDIZ (GDIZ) is an integrated Logistics and Industrial platform, conceptualized to offer industrial plots, warehouses, truck parking and container handling facilities. The core purpose of GDIZ is to establish an attractive investment climate for the industries, provide administrative and fiscal support, and promote entrepreneurial ventures.
What makes GDIZ better than the rest?
GDIZ is a public-private project of ARISE IIP and Benin government which offers the first industrial zone with complete infrastructure and facilities, logistics and warehousing services in Benin. ARISE IIP is an industrial platform which aims to promote the investments in Africa, having 10 years of experience to develop and operate economic zones in Africa, the related services also cover in Gabon, Benin and Ivory Coast.
What is the business advantage of setting up a business in GDIZ?
There are five main advantages which investors can enjoy in GDIZ: logistics advantage, policy advantage (agreements), administrative advantage, cost advantage, and market advantage.
Learn more about GDIZ here.
LABOUR
How is the labour availability in GDIZ?
Benin has a one of youngest readily available work forces on the continent. The Government is also in the process of creating organized vocational training centres to meet the demands of various processing and manufacturing industries focused on textiles, agro-processing and equipment manufacturing.
What are the minimum wages in GDIZ?
41.000 CFA.
Is 3-shift allowed in GDIZ?
Yes, it can be allowed in accordance to the standard labour laws in Benin
SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE
SERVICES
Does GDIZ provide facilitation service for obtaining government approvals?
Through the ‘Guichet Unique’ presently installed in APIEx.
What are the security arrangements in GDIZ?
There are security cameras all over the Zone, a police station and a fire station.
POLICY INCENTIVES
What incentives can manufacturing units have in GDIZ?
Fiscal incentives, import duties exemptions and taxes exemptions.
What are the tax/tariff incentives in GDIZ?
100% permanent exemption from corporate income tax (otherwise 5%), business and license tax. 100% exemption from Employer Payroll tax (otherwise up to 33%). Also, 100% exemption from TVA for raw materials bought into the zone (otherwise 18%).
CONSTRUCTION
Is GDIZ responsible for constructing industrial factories?
Clients are free to construct factories as per their requirements and regulations of the zone. Otherwise, GDIZ team can facilitate with construction and other set-up requirements
ENVIRONMENT
What are the waste management applied in GDIZ?
We have sustainability charter that companies will be required to follow.
RAW MATERIAL SUPPLY
Is GDIZ engaged in raw material supply?
Yes, every raw material are arranged and available for the units.
MARKETING
What percentage of goods manufactured in GDIZ can be sold in Benin?
It is subject to the company and choice of Regime. There are two regimes applicable in the Zone:
- Regime 1
- Regime 2 .
Please contact GDIZ team for details.
