Brazil will lend Benin 20 billion CFA francs ($40 million) to build a 77-kilometer (48-mile) road between Ketou and Save in the central part of the West African nation, President Thomas Boni Yayi said.

Brazil also agreed to build a factory for generic drugs in the region and state-controlled oil producer Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PETR4) plans to start offshore exploration, he told reporters today after returning from a trip to the South American nation.

To contact the reporter on this story: Serge-David Zoueme in Porto Novo at zsergedavid@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Emily Bowers at ebowers1@bloomberg.net