Benin is a long narrow
country in West Africa, stretching over 650 km from the Niger River in the north to the
Atlantic Ocean in the South. Benin borders Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria, and
it covers an area of 112,622 square kilometers. The population is approximately 6 million
with 31% living in the urban areas. A former French colony, known as Dahomey until 1975,
the country gained its independence in 1960 but the following 12 years include 11 changes
of government in 12 year. Scientific socialism was introduced in 1974. Faced with economic
problems, the government abandoned it socialist path in 1989, and conceded to multiparty
elections following a referendum in 1991.
The economy of Benin
is underdeveloped and is dependent on subsistence agriculture. The main exports are
palm-oil, cotton and groundnuts. Timber is also sold from the rapidly depleting central
rainforest belt. Fees from Niger's transit trade through Cotonou are an important source
of revenue. There is also a significant amount of illegal trade with Nigeria. In 1998,
offshore oil production began and the industry has shown a little progress since then. Of
the estimated labour force of 1.9 million, 60% are involved in agriculture; 38 % in
transport, commerce and public services; the industry sector employs less than 2%. Support
from the Paris Club and official bilateral creditors has eased the external debt service
burden. Despite the burden of costly state enterprises and a bloated civil service sector,
the government is gradually implementing a structural adjustment programme supported by
the World Bank.
Benin has 51,600 main
telephone lines in 2000 resulting in a telephone density of 0.85 lines per hundred
population.The Office des Postes et Télécommunications is the state-owned company
responsible for the provision of postal and telecommunications services.
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