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Anand in Benin and Côte d’Ivoire: a new embassy, port financing and a FinDev Canada loan

The minister opened Canada’s embassy in Cotonou and announced about $85 million across Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and West Africa, plus talks on an expanded air transport agreement.

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Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand travelled to Cotonou, Benin, and Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from August 4 to 6, 2026, as part of Canada’s Africa Strategy. Global Affairs Canada summarized the trip on August 7.

Benin

  • Official opening of the Embassy of Canada to Benin, in Cotonou.
  • About $17 million for seven projects in Benin and across West Africa, including $5 million to support women-led businesses through digital transformation and $1.5 million to reduce gender disparities in the regional energy sector, alongside school meals, security and police cooperation projects.
  • A memorandum of understanding establishing a mechanism for bilateral consultations.
  • A visit to the Port Autonome de Cotonou, where Canada’s loan of about $26 million through the Canada-African Development Bank Climate Fund contributes to a roughly $316-million modernization project with climate adaptation measures.

Côte d’Ivoire

  • Talks with Vice President Tiémoko Meyliet Koné on bilateral trade, long-term economic cooperation and regional stability.
  • About $68.4 million in financing and funding, led by a loan of about $65 million (€40 million) through FinDev Canada to NSIA Banque Côte d’Ivoire.
  • About $900,000 to develop and test an inclusive bond-financing mechanism for very small enterprises and informal-sector workers.
  • A memorandum of understanding on bilateral consultations, and the intention to launch negotiations to expand the Canada–Côte d’Ivoire Air Transport Agreement.

“This visit has been an excellent opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to Canada’s Africa Strategy—and to announce key financial investments that will drive sustainable economic growth and foster robust bilateral cooperation.”

— Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Why it matters for the CACT community

A new embassy in Cotonou means a closer point of contact for Canadians doing business in Benin, and a FinDev Canada loan to a local bank is the type of instrument that can reach the smaller firms diaspora entrepreneurs often partner with. An expanded air agreement with Côte d’Ivoire, if concluded, would matter to anyone moving people or goods between Canada and francophone West Africa. These announcements also follow EDC’s February analysis singling out Côte d’Ivoire for comparatively strong bankability.

Sources

Every fact in this post comes from the sources below. Quotations are reproduced verbatim from these documents.

  1. Minister Anand concludes trip to Benin and Côte d’Ivoire to strengthen Canada’s partnerships in West Africa

    Global Affairs Canada · August 7, 2026 · French version

Editorial analysis by CACT. Not an official Government of Canada, Senate or EDC publication.

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