Benin’s lawmakers have turned the opening of parliament’s second ordinary session of the year into a showcase for local craftsmanship, with nearly all deputies wearing clothes made by Beninese artisans.
The initiative, held on Wednesday, supports the country’s “Made in Benin” campaign, which promotes domestic production and consumption during October.
National Assembly President Joseph Fifamin Djogbénou urged citizens and public institutions to prioritise locally made goods, saying domestic consumption was essential to economic growth.
He also highlighted the contribution of tailors, weavers and designers to employment and household incomes, calling for support for local products to extend beyond official events into everyday life.
The parliamentary session comes as lawmakers prepare to examine the government’s budget guidelines for 2027.
