SACE finalizes its first Push Strategy in Benin: new opportunities for Italian exports in West Africa
– SACE has announced its first Push Strategy transaction in Benin, providing a guarantee covering a €120 million loan to the Ministry of Finance of Benin. This initiative marks a significant milestone in the development of commercial relations between Italy and Benin and further strengthens ties with Africa, aligning with Piano Mattei.
The financing, arranged by Natixis as Agent Bank and Arranger, intends to bolster Italian companies' export opportunities in key sectors for Piano Mattei such as logistics infrastructure, energy, public services, and agricultural machinery. SACE's involvement under the Push Strategy aims to facilitate new collaborations through matchmaking events, thereby stimulating Benin's economy and contributing to its social development by improving access to essential services.
Benin is channeling its development towards sectors and projects of high interest to Italian companies. It is estimated that over 600 SMEs could be involved in the match-making events, creating new opportunities for collaboration and economic growth.
SACE's Push Strategy provides Italian businesses with a gateway to international markets, ensuring financing to foreign counterparts committed to increasing purchases of goods and services from Italy. The Business Matching, a key component of this SACE product, is organized in collaboration with key stakeholders in the host country and facilitates targeted meetings between Italian companies and foreign counterparts, fostering new business connections.
"SACE reaffirms its commitment to supporting Italian excellence in the strategic sectors of infrastructure, energy, and machinery, and to strengthening commercial ties with Africa, in line with Piano Mattei. The Push Strategy proves to be a key driver for creating new export opportunities for Italian SMEs and for consolidating relationships with major international buyers” declared Ms. Michal Ron, SACE’s Chief International Officer.