The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Benin (CCI Benin) and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of Fez-Meknes (CCIS-FM) signed a strategic partnership agreement on Thursday, June 19, 2025, in a significant move aimed at bolstering South-South cooperation and driving regional economic integration.
The signing took place on the sidelines of the General Assembly of the Permanent Conference of African and Francophone Consular Chambers (CPCCAF), hosted this year in the historic city of Fez, Morocco.
The two-day conference, held on June 19 and 20, brings together economic leaders from across the Francophone and African world to promote inter-chamber collaboration and sustainable economic development.
Presiding over the ceremony were Arnauld Akakpo, President of CCI Benin, and Hamza Benabdallah, President of CCIS Fez-Meknes, who hailed the accord as a timely initiative to catalyse growth among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across both regions.
“This agreement is part of a strategic vision of South-South cooperation, in line with the sustainable development ambitions of our two institutions,” said Akakpo, emphasising the importance of regional synergy in achieving inclusive economic goals.
Echoing that sentiment, Benabdallah described the pact as a “promising initiative” for entrepreneurs in both countries.
“Inter-chamber partnerships are a powerful lever for supporting SMEs and structuring exchanges on a regional scale,” he stated.
The agreement outlines a range of joint initiatives that are expected to roll out in the near term.
These include the launch of collaborative economic missions, cross-border training programmes for business leaders, and a shared platform for promoting innovation and investment opportunities in Benin and the Fez-Meknes region.
As both chambers move to operationalise the partnership, they are aiming to provide tangible benefits to local businesses, positioning SMEs as central players in the broader agenda of regional economic integration and sustainability.
The initiative marks a new chapter in Benin-Morocco relations, rooted in pragmatic collaboration and the shared aspiration to empower entrepreneurs across Africa through innovation, knowledge exchange, and trade.
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