The Panier-minute activity launched on Saturday, 17 October 2026, at the Ganhi market in Cotonou. This initiative seeks to promote local consumption across Bénin. The Panier-minute challenge provides participants with 10,000 FCFA and a time limit of 60 seconds to fill a basket exclusively with local Beninese products. Organizers designed the event to encourage shoppers to prioritize goods produced within the country. By limiting both the budget and the duration of the shopping experience, the activity aims to demonstrate the availability and variety of domestic items for daily needs. Participants must select their goods rapidly to complete the challenge within the allotted minute. This specific format ensures that the focus remains on the accessibility of locally sourced food and household items available in the markets.
Upcoming Market Challenge Schedule
Organizers scheduled the next Panier-minute activity for the Ouando market in Porto-Novo on 21 October 2026. This session, which falls on a Wednesday, continues the effort to reach diverse populations across the country. Following this, the event will move to the PK3 market in Cotonou on 24 October 2026, which is a Saturday. The series will continue at the Guéma market in Parakou on 28 October 2026, also a Wednesday. These locations were selected to ensure that the message of supporting domestic goods reaches shoppers in multiple key urban centers. Each event follows the established rules, requiring participants to navigate the stalls efficiently to secure their basket of local products within the strict 60-second window.
Participants at previous events expressed enthusiasm for the initiative. Irène Dossou Yovo, a hotelier and restaurateur, stated: "À partir d’aujourd’hui, je vais encourager mes amis et les membres de ma famille à consommer davantage nos produits locaux." Joseph, a Nigerian national, also shared his experience after participating in the challenge, noting: "C’était très agréable. Je suis venu et je me suis bien amusé." These upcoming sessions maintain the established format, requiring shoppers to fill baskets with domestic goods within a one-minute timeframe using a 10,000 FCFA budget. The organizers emphasize that the 10,000 FCFA provided is sufficient to demonstrate the value and quality of items grown or manufactured by Beninese producers.
Industrial Growth in Benin
Afrikan Ceramics Solutions (ACS) operates a manufacturing facility within the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ). This factory maintains a production capacity of 10,000 m² of tiles per day. By establishing this output level, the company contributes to the availability of industrial goods produced within Bénin. The facility functions as part of the broader development of the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone, which serves as a center for domestic manufacturing. The presence of Afrikan Ceramics Solutions (ACS) in the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) shows the country's commitment to increasing its domestic industrial base. By producing 10,000 m² of tiles per day, the company provides a significant supply of construction materials that are made locally. This industrial output complements the goals of the Panier-minute initiative by showcasing that Bénin can produce essential goods for both daily consumption and long-term infrastructure needs.