Benin’s National Assembly officially opened its second ordinary session of the year in Porto-Novo on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, in accordance with Articles 85 and 87 of the Beninese Constitution, with lawmakers using the occasion to champion domestic economic sovereignty.
Attending the opening sitting in traditional garments created by local artisans, tailors, and weavers, members of parliament transformed the legislative session into a high-profile showcase for “Made in Benin” products as part of national activities marking October as the dedicated month of local consumption.
Presiding over the assembly, National Assembly Speaker Professor Joseph Fifamin Djogbénou urged citizens, government bodies, and private sector enterprises to align their everyday purchasing choices with national economic priorities, warning that true development remains unreachable if a nation fails to consume its own domestic production. As parliamentarians prepare to examine the state’s 2027 budget guidelines, the symbolic initiative highlights the vital contribution of the local craft and textile sectors to national job creation, emphasizing that sustainable growth relies heavily on active institutional backing for homegrown expertise and local industries.
TE/lb/abj/APA