“The Beninese economy is gaining strength. The authorities’ balanced policy response to external shocks, supported by frontloaded financing under the EEF/ECF, has boosted business confidence. Economic activity is estimated to have expanded by 6.3 percent in 2022, buoyed by construction and good harvest. While the outlook is favorable, supported by the expansion of the special economic zone and the modernization of the Port of Cotonou, geoeconomic fragmentation poses an important risk, with the protracted war in Ukraine and the challenging regional security situation straining external accounts and threatening food security.