An Agricultural Bank in the Pipeline

UNCLAS COTONOU 000313


DEPT FOR AF/E JKNIGHT, AF/EPS, AF/W ACOOK
DEPT PLEASE PASS USTR (LAGAMA)
PARIS FOR BKANEDA
LONDON FOR PLORD
DAKAR FOR FAS RHANSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EFIN ECON PGOV BN
SUBJECT: An Agricultural Bank in the Pipeline


1. SUMMARY: On June 25, 2006, the GOB hosted a meeting with its
institutional and private partners to invite them to be part of the
CFA 10 billion Francs CFA (USD 2.15 million) capital of a would-be
agricultural bank, AgriBanque-Benin, a private-public banking
institution. The decision by the GOB to set up the bank is
consistent with its agricultural reform program. The objectives of
the GOB's move are to boost the agricultural sector, to get Benin
self sufficient in food production and to enable the country to
become a major crop exporter in the West African sub region by 2015.
END SUMMARY.

SHAREHOLDING OF AGRIBANQUE-BENIN
--------------


2. The authorized capital of the new Agribanque-Benin is 10 billion
Francs CFA (USD 2.15 million). To assure that the targeted capital
would be reached, the GOB has decided to hold between 25% and 35% of
shares. The rest of the shares will be held by individuals, banking
institutions and other companies. The Benin Chamber of Commerce and
Industry and the ECOWAS' Investment and Development Bank have
already expressed their intention to hold 35% and 10% of the capital
respectively. The West African Development Bank, two insurance
companies, and other private companies (also represented at the
meeting) promised to participate in the capital of the Bank. In
total, an amount of CFA 5.325 billion (USD 1.13 million),53.25% of
the authorized capital of Agribanque-Benin, was promised by
participants in the meeting.


3. According to the bank's agenda, the constituting assembly of the
shareholders will take place at the end of July 2009. This will be
followed by the authorization formalities with the monetary
authorities, the West African States Central Bank (BCEAO) and the
West African Economic and Monetary Union, WAEMU, in October. Formal
bank activities are scheduled to commence in December 2009.


4. Pascal Irenee Koupaki, the Minister of State in Charge of
Planning, Development and the Evaluation of the Public Policies and
the Coordination of the Government's Actions, chaired the meeting
and assured the participants that the bank would be managed as a
private bank with management appointed by the Bank's Board of
Directors. Koupaki added that the GOB would sell the majority of
its shares to interested private companies and individuals as the
bank grows. He cautioned that the GOB would be policing the bank to
make sure that it will not divert from its main objective, which is
financing agricultural and agribusiness projects initiated by
private companies and individuals.

AGRICULTURAL REFORM ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL
--------------


5. According to Koupaki, the decision to create AgriBanque-Benin is
to make the GOB's agricultural policy reform more comprehensive so
that Benin can become self sufficient in food production and a
powerful agricultural exporter by 2015. He said that the GOB already
contributed to the creation of public-private joint ventures
specialized in import and distribution of agricultural inputs, and
an agricultural mechanization development agency. He explained that
this bank will fill the gap left by existing commercial banks which
finance only cotton related products. Koupaki added that the new
bank will be a private-public joint venture financial institution
and will be conducting agricultural and agribusiness financing in
addition to normal commercial banking activities.


6. COMMENT: The GOB is taking the initiate to create the
agricultural bank to support its agricultural reform policy because
it is aware that banking activities targeting the often small
agricultural operators are perceived as risky by private investors.
The GOB will ensure that the bank also conduct commercial activities
in order to be able to offset any losses that may occur in financing
the agriculture sector. END COMMENT.

BOUSTANI