78 OUIDAH GOLF CLUB, BENIN, WEST AFRICA Benin has long relied on the export of raw agricultural commodities, particularly cotton, to drive its economy. In the pursuit of diversification, the country has embarked upon several new initiatives to boost investment and prosperity. Flagship projects include the GloDjigbé Industrial Zone, a 1,600-hectare manufacturing hub that, since opening in 2022, has attracted over US$1 billion in foreign investment and created over 16,000 jobs; and the five-year modernisation and expansion of the Port of Cotonou, which is due for completion this year. Development of its tourism sector is also a central pillar of its national development plan. West of Cotonou, the country’s largest city, is the town of Avlékété, where Ouidah Golf Club is ready to open the nation’s first 18-hole golf course, designed by Jeremy Pern and built by Gregori International. It is hoped that the club will attract international visitors while also appealing to a growing domestic middle class. “The objective was to adopt a comprehensive destinationdevelopment approach – one that is firmly connected to the territory, its local identity and its communities,” says Joan Dessaint Fomi, a director at ANPT, the country’s agency for heritage and tourism. “The development of high-quality facilities is intended to strengthen the appeal of Benin as a tourism destination.” It is hoped that the Ouidah course can be a catalyst for similar developments in the country, all Ouidah Golf Club is the first 18-hole golf course in the West African nation of Benin, and has been built as part of the country’s desire for economic diversification. Charting a new course PROFILED
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