Benin report - Institut Africain de la Gouvernance

CHAPTER FOUR: ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT__________________________________________________________________________policy – has limits. These should be taken into account if the governmentwants to make the agricultural sector the basis of the country‟s economy.435. The objectives of the industrial and trade strategies are well defined. Theseare to develop raw materials, and to meet the needs of the population in sodoing; and to broaden the industrial base by participating in regional policy, bycomplying with WTO rules, and by regulating the domestic market. Theseobjectives are intended to be met mainly through the policy of growth poles.The CRM is pleased with the existence of these two well-defined sectoralobjectives. The CRM believes that the policy of growth poles requires that thedefinition and location of these poles should be accompanied by a spatialdistribution of economic functions so as to create links between the differentpoles and their respective hinterlands, on the one hand, and between the polesthemselves on the other. This will establish an integrated and reconfiguredeconomic space that is not isolated, and one that is open to WAEMU and(particularly) ECOWAS. In this respect, the CRM noted the genuine concernsof the government regarding the country‟s energy deficit, which limits Benin‟sindustrial prospects, and it appreciates the solutions envisaged by theauthorities to address it.436. The objective of the transport strategy is to construct and maintain means oftransport and communication. At this level, the transport sector should beadapted to the current economic and population characteristics, and especiallyto the vision of the Benin of 2025. The CRM was pleased to note the existenceof road toll stations so that road users can contribute to road maintenance andto programmes for developing infrastructure.437. The CRM has found that it is not clear whether the sectoral policies willcontribute fully and harmoniously to the development of the Alafia Bénin2025 vision. For example, the CRM is not sure whether the strategy of growthor development poles in industry will be consistent with those of transport andagriculture, especially as it is said that the major objective of the transportpolicy is to transport agricultural products out of the country. Consequently,efforts should be made to ensure that the overlap between the different sectoralstrategic frameworks reflects coherence between the policies, on the one hand,and between the policies and the „emerging Benin‟ scenario on the other.iii.Recommendations of the APR Panel438. The APR Panel recommends that the government should:Pursue efforts to stabilise macroeconomic policies, particularly the publicfinance framework and sectoral strategies.Clarify the nature and model of growth derived from the vision of an„emerging Benin‟ by providing it with a solid, sustainable and largelyinclusive productive base.Define clearly the desired reconfiguration of the national space for thesame target date, by ensuring consistency between the industrial strategy158