Japan-Benin Relations

February 5, 2024

Basic Data

Diplomatic Relations:

  • 1 August, 1960 (Date of the recognition of the State)

Japanese Nationals:

  • Number of Japanese nationals residing in the Republic of Benin: 65 (as of Oct. 2023)
  • Number of Beninese nationals residing in Japan: 149 (as of Jun. 2023)

Trade with Japan (2022):

  • Exports: 304.5 . million yen (metal ore and scrap, etc)
  • Imports: 1,883.5 million yen (machinery and vehicles, manufactured goods, etc)

Japan's Economic Cooperation:

  • Loans: 3,762 million yen (List of Exchange of Notes)
  • Grants: 46,250 million yen (List of Exchange of Notes)
  • Technical cooperation: 10,798 million yen

VIP Visits

From Japan to the Republic of Benin:
Month Year Name
Jul. 2007 Takeshi IWAYA, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs
Aug. 2010 Masaaki ITOKAWA, Member of the House of Representatives
Jul. 2012 Toshiyuki KATO, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs
Jan. 2014 Japan-African Union (AU) Parliamentary Friendship League headed by Shinsuke OKUNO, Senior Vice Minister of Justice
Feb. 2014 Yosuke TSURUHO, Member of the House of Councillors
Aug. 2015 Minoru KIUCHI, State Minister for Foreign Affairs
Apr. 2016 Shinsuke OKUNO, Member of the House of Representatives
Jan. 2018 Kiyoshi EJIMA, Shigeru DOKO and Renho, Members of the House of Councillors (ODA Research Mission of the House of Councillors)
From the Republic of Benin to Japan:
Month Year Name
Oct. 1993 H.E. Mr. Nicephore SOGLO (TICAD I), President
Feb. 1994 H.E. Mr. Nicephore SOGLO, President
Feb. 1997 H.E. Mr. Léonard Djidjoho PADONOU (Ministre de l'Education Nationale et de la Recherche Scientifique)
Oct. 1998 H.E. Mr. Mathieu KEREKOU, President (TICAD II)
Dec. 2001 H.E.Mr. Kolawole Antoine IDJI, Minister of Foreign Affairs
(Ministre des Affaires Etrangères, et de l'integration africaine de République du Bénin)
Feb. 2002 H.E. Mr. Kolawole Antoine IDJI, Minister of Foreign Affairs
(Ministre des Affaires Etrangères, et de l'integration africaine de République du Bénin)
Jan. 2003 H.E. Mr. Rogatien BIAOU, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Ministre Adjoint des Affaires Etrangères, et de l'integration africaine de République du Béni)
Mar. 2003 H.E. Mr. Luc Marie Constant GNACADJA, Ministre de l'Environnment, de l'Habitat et de l'Urbanisme du Bénin
Sep. 2003 H.E. Mr. Mathieu KEREKOU, President (TICAD III)
Sep. 2005 H.E. Mr. Rogatien BIAOU, Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Ministre des Affaires Etrangères, et de l'integration africaine de République du Bénin)
Jun. 2006 H.E. Ms.Mariam ALADJI BONI, épouse DIALLO, Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Ministre des Affaires Etrangères de la République du Bénin)
Jul. 2006 H.E. Dr. Boni YAYI, President
May 2008 H.E. Dr. Boni YAYI, President (TICAD IV)
Oct. 2010 H.E. Mr. Jean-Marie EHOUZOU, Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Ministre des Affaires Etrangères, de l'Intégration Africaine, de la Francophonie et des Béninois de l'Extérieur)
Jan. 2013 H.E. Mr. Max Barthélémy AHOUEKE, Ministre de la Communication et des Technologies de l'Information et de la Communication
Feb. 2013 H.E. Dr. Boni YAYI, President
Jun. 2013 H.E. Dr. Boni YAYI, President
Oct. 2013 H.E. Mr. Raphaël EDOU, Ministre de l'Environnement Chargé de la Gestion des Changements Climatiques, du Reboisement et de la Protection des Ressources Naturelles et Forestières
Oct. 2015 H.E. Mr. Lionel ZINSOU, Prime Minister in charge of Economic Development, Public Political Evaluation and Promotion of Good Governance
Jul. 2017 H.E. Mr. Romuald WADAGNI, Minister for Economy and Finance (Ministre de l' Économie et des Finances)
Jun. 2018 H.E. Mr. Aurélien AGBÉNONCI, Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ministre des Affaires Etrangères et de la Coopération)
H.E. Mr. Romuald WADAGNI, Minister for Economy and Finance (Ministre de l' Économie et des Finances)
Oct. 2018 H.E. Mr. Aurélien AGBÉNONCI, Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ministre des Affaires Etrangères et de la Coopération)
Aug. 2019 H.E. Mr. Patrice Athanase Guillaume TALON, President
H.E. Mr. Aurélien AGBÉNONCI, Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ministre des Affaires Etrangères et de la Coopération)
H.E. Mr. Romuald WADAGNI, Minister for Economy and Finance (Ministre de l'Économie et des Finances)
H.E. Mrs. Aurelie Adam Soulé ZOUMAROU
Minister of Digital Economy and Communications (Ministre de l’ Economie Numérique et de la Communication)
Oct. 2019 H.E. Mr. Patrice Athanase Guillaume TALON, President
Sep. 2022 H.E. Mr. Romuald WADAGNI, Minister for Economy and Finance (Ministre de l' Économie et des Finances)
Jun. 2023 H.E. Mr. Romuald WADAGNI, Minister for Economy and Finance (Ministre de l' Économie et des Finances)
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