India and the West African nation Benin have set up a joint commission to boost multi-sectoral bilateral co-operation, including in trade. Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor, who arrived in Benin yesterday on a three-day official visit, said this.<br/><br/> He said Benin's exports to India has grown consistently making it the third largest market with 106 million US dollar for financial year ended March 31, 2009 while Indian exports to the West African country stands at 203 million US dollar for the same period.<br/><br/> Tharoor, while inaugurating the first joint commission meeting between the two countries, also suggested new areas of cooperation like transportation, pharmaceutical, ICT, telecom, rural development, small and medium industries, agriculture and agro-based industry and human resource development.<br/><br/> Meanwhile, Benin pledged its support to New Delhi's bid for a permanent membership of the UN Security Council.