In December 2016, Benin announced its economic transformation plan, including 45 flagship projects addressing the major components of the west African country's economy. Six of the projects are specifically focused on constructing a digital economy. Serge Adjovi, director of Benin’s Digital Economy Agency, speaks to Joy Macknight about the laying the foundations for progress.

Francophone west Africa’s regional stock exchange, the BRVM, suffers from low turnover and a lack of listings. But its chief executive tells Paul Wallace he is determined to change that and bring about closer ties with Nigeria and Ghana’s stock markets. 

African banks are increasingly looking outside of their domestic markets, and many of the continent's biggest lenders are now active in multiple countries, buoyed by greater access to vast unbanked populations and a more stable political environment.