France will disburse over €275 million ($339.4 million) to support Benin government action plan (PAG). This was revealed yesterday March 5, by France’s president Emmanuel Macron during a press briefing.

 Following the visit of Benin’s President, Patrice Talon, to his French counterpart, five sectors have been selected to benefit from this funding. They are namely the health, climate change, tourism, education and culture sectors.

France will then disburse €175 million ($ 216.1 million) to build a hospital complex in Abomey-Calavi, €58 million ($ 71.6 million) to build sustainable cities as part of climate change adaptation. €43 million ($53 million) will also be directed to develop Ganvié lakeside city to enhance the tourism potential of the "Venice of Africa".

 The French Development Agency (AFD) should also grant €108 million ($133.3 million) to develop Cotonou and three other towns but the amount to be granted to education and training sector is not revealed yet.

For the record, France also planned to set a committee to consider the sensitive issue about the repatriation of the assets of Beninese and African cultural heritage, to their country of origin.

Moutiou Adjibi Nourou (intern)