in 1983, he became involved in trade of packaging and agricultural inputs activities. in 1985, he returned to benin and established the intercontinental distribution company "(société distribution intercontinentale"; "sdi)", which supplies agricultural inputs to cotton producers. although in 1990, following recommendations by the world bank to liberalize economies in west africa countries, in which benin was called upon to withdraw from the cotton production chain. he then won the chance to establish three cotton ginning factories in the country. he was also known as the "king of cotton" for his involvement in the cotton industry, talon built his empire due to connections with the beninese political class.