Togo Seeks Faster Farm Exports With New UEMOA-ECOWAS Guide

Agriculture

Monday, 05 January 2026 14:51

Togo Seeks Faster Farm Exports With New UEMOA-ECOWAS Guide

Togo approved a simplified export procedures guide to ease agricultural trade within UEMOA and ECOWAS.
The guide targets cross-border trade in agricultural, livestock, forestry, and fisheries products.
Authorities aim to cut costs, delays, and post-harvest losses while boosting regional market access.

In Togo, authorities approved last week a simplified guide on export procedures for agricultural products destined for UEMOA and ECOWAS markets. The document seeks to improve information access for stakeholders on rules and formalities governing cross-border agricultural trade.

The authorities developed the guide with support from the Regional Agricultural Market Integration Program (PRIMA). The document targets actors involved in cross-border trade of agricultural, livestock, forestry, and fisheries products. It addresses producers, exporters, public administrations responsible for agriculture and trade, and private-sector operators.

In practical terms, the guide clarifies each step of export procedures. It details required documentation, applicable standards, and rules on free movement and preferential regimes within the regional bloc. As a result, the harmonization of information aims to reduce transaction costs, shorten processing times, and limit procedural errors. The authorities also expect the guide to facilitate trade flows and reduce post-harvest losses.

By easing access for Togolese products to intraregional markets, the initiative seeks to help exporters capitalize on a regional market of more than 400 million consumers. Moreover, the measure aligns with Togo’s national strategy to promote agricultural exports and strengthen local value chains.

According to the Ministry of Trade’s delegate minister, the initiative aims to encourage and further structure exports, particularly agro-industrial products. Agriculture accounts for more than 40% of gross domestic product and employs about 65% of Togo’s workforce.

This article was initially published in French by Esaie Edoh

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

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Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

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In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

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To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.