August 01, 2019
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The government held this Wednesday, July 31, 2019, the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers in the presence of President Patrice TALON, Head of State, Head of Government. Several important decisions have been made.
Minutes of the Council of Ministers
The Council of Ministers met this Wednesday, July 31, 2019, under the chairmanship of Mr. Patrice TALON, President of the Republic, Head of State, Head of Government.
The following decisions have been taken.
I- Normative measures.
I-1. Transmission to the National Assembly, for authorization of ratification, of the loan agreement signed with the African Development Fund, as part of the financing of the project to support the development of the cashew nut sector and agricultural entrepreneurship (PADEFA -ena).
The said agreement relates to an amount of five billion six hundred and seventy-one million thousand six hundred and eighty (5,671,001,680) FCFA. The project for which it is intended aims to contribute to the reduction of poverty through the improvement of food and nutritional security.
Specifically, it will promote the development of agricultural entrepreneurship, the sustainable increase of the incomes of actors of the cashew nut sector as well as the noticeable improvement of the productivity.
Under the project, nearly 20,000 hectares of plantations and 30,000 producers or service providers will be impacted in the communes of the following departments:
- Department of the Hills:
communes of Bantè, Dassa-Zoumè, Savè;
- Department of Donga:
the communes of Bassila, Djougou, Ouaké and Copargo;
- Department of Borgou:
communes of Tchaourou, Parakou, N'Dali, Nikki and Pèrèrè;
- Department of Zou:
Djidja commune.
The Ministers responsible for the implementation of the project will carry out the
appropriate steps to obtain the authorization sought in order to
start of activities.
I-2. Transmission to the National Assembly, for authorization of ratification, of the loan agreement signed between the Republic of Benin and the Investment and Development Bank of ECOWAS, as part of the complementary financing of the project of equipment and rehabilitation of health facilities in Benin.
Of a total of two billion eight hundred and twenty-five million (2,825,000,000) FCFA, this loan agreement is intended for the acquisition:
a scanner for the Departmental Hospital Zou / Collines;
hygiene and sterilization equipment for 19 health facilities;
furniture, general equipment and logistics for the benefit of the same departmental hospital and departmental hospital centers BorgoujAlibori and Ouémé / Plateau; of the Hubert Koutoukou MAGA National University Hospital Center and the Grand-Popo Health Center.
The ratification of this loan agreement is part of the logic of strengthening the quality of care provided for the benefit of the population in the hospitals and health facilities concerned.
I-3. Decrees of application of the law nO 2017-20 of April 20, 2018 bearing digital code in the Republic of Benin.
The adoption of the first seven decrees on all the implementing texts provided for by the law will provide an appropriate regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services.
These decrees concern:
the powers, organization and functioning of the bodies of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and the Post Office; then decrees fixing:
the procedures for granting licenses, authorizations and conditions for the completion of the declaration relating to the exercise of electronic communications activities;
radio frequency management rules and conditions of use; the rules on access and interconnection of electronic communications networks;
penalty procedures applicable to operators of electronic communications networks and services;
dispute settlement procedures in the area of electronic communications and mail; and
the list of radio frequency bands for the establishment and operation of networks open to the public under license.
The Council has also amended two decrees implementing Law n02017-04 of 19 October 2017 on the public procurement code in force in the Republic of Benin; and then adopted two other decrees, the first dealing with the organization and operation of the National Criminal Records Center and the second with the appointment of auditors to offices and state-owned companies.
II- Communications.
II-1 National Plan of Action for the Implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1325 and subsequent in Benin.
The main objective of these United Nations resolutions is to increase women's participation in conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The following Action Plan focuses on four areas of intervention:
conflict prevention and sexual violence;
the protection of women and girls in all circumstances;
women's participation in all peace processes;
promoting and / or supporting community peace initiatives through women.
In adopting this plan, the Council instructed Ministers to popularize this cross-cutting theme in our country.
II-2. Adoption of the framework of intervention of the Independent Producers of Electricity (IPP) in Benin.
This intervention framework clearly sets out the procedures likely to favor the participation of IPP potential in the development of the Energy sector.
Under the terms it defines, PPIs are placed under the public service concession scheme. To this end, the contractualization of a PPI must, as a matter of principle, result from an open and transparent competitive bidding process.
These provisions are linked to the MCA-Benin II Program, and aim to create the best conditions for private investors, especially those interested in the electricity sub-sector.
II-3. Report on the national census of craftsmen of Benin.
The census of craftsmen took place from February 27 to March 17, 2019 throughout the national territory, and generated a total workforce of 241,029 artisans.
It is an essential step in implementing the reform roadmap for the creation of the Chamber of Craft Trades of Benin (CMA-Benin). The next steps include the constitution of the electoral list, the issuance of professional cards of craftsmen, the organization of the elections proper and the installation of the Chamber.
In this perspective, the Government, while validating the principle of the distribution by sector of activities proposed by the actors, recommended the establishment of sub-branches to allow a fair representativity of the different trades.
The Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Employment Promotion will ensure the diligent pursuit of the process.
II-4. Contractualization for the mission of hotel technical assistance and management of the hotel, the mission of conduct of operation and the technical control of the construction works of the hotel SOFITEL, then the renovation of the International Conference Center (CIC) of Cotonou.
The construction projects of this hotel and the renovation of the CIC are part of the strengthening of the offer of hotel receptions and meeting facilities of high standing, international standards and conveniences.
As a reminder, SOFITEL Cotonou will include 200 rooms and 5 villas including a presidential, restaurants, meeting rooms and event spaces, swimming pools and a business center.
As for the CIC, its renovation includes the construction of congress halls, meetings, press as well as 4 presidential fairs.
With the start of work very imminent, the Council approved the
contracting with:
the ACCOR ROTELS group for the hotel technical assistance mission for the construction and equipment of the hotel SOFITEL and its management;
the company GASSIM Services Limited for the operation of the operation of the project of construction of the said hotel and renovation of the CIC; and
the QUALICONSULT cabinet for the technical control of the works.
II-5. Organization of a complementary test for the selection of postulants for teaching professions in kindergarten, primary and general secondary (phase 2).
The various diagnoses made on the Beninese education system have highlighted major concerns among which, a qualitative and quantitative deficit of the teaching staff. Thus, for the academic year 2019-2020, the needs amount to 7397 teachers for the
primary school and 14,332 for general secondary education.
It was in order to reduce this deficit that the Government had organized an aptitude test on 11 May 2019, at the general secondary level, in order to establish a database of aspirants to the teaching profession in subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry and technology; French, philosophy, physical education and sports.
But the number of pre-qualified applicants remains below requirements, hence the need for a new test.
To this end, nearly 50,000 new applicants have already been registered and enrollments are continuing for a competency assessment scheduled for 14 August 2019.
The Ministers concerned by the file will ensure the proper organization of the test to fill the deficit of teachers, for more performance of our education system.
II-6. Price of petroleum products for the month of August 2019.
In application of the adjustment mechanism, the prices at the pump, for the month of August 2019, are as follows:
petrol: 535 F / l,
oil: 540 F / l,
gas oil: 540 F / l,
mixture: 615 F / l,
domestic gas: 470 F / kg.
III- Meetings and international events.
The Council authorized the organization, from October 15 to 19, 2019, of the Semaine du Numérique edition 2019.
IV- Individual measures.
On the proposal of the Minister of Numerical Economy and Communication, Mr. Hervé Coovi GUEDEGBE is appointed Executive Secretary of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Post (ARCEP).
Done at Cotonou on July 31, 2019.
The Secretary General of the Government
Edouard OUIN-OURO
