African Fisheries Stakeholders Meet in Lomé to Tackle Sector Challenges

Agriculture

Tuesday, 23 June 2026 18:38

African Fisheries Stakeholders Meet in Lomé to Tackle Sector Challenges

(Togo First) - A five-day regional meeting focused on artisanal fisheries opened in Lomé on Monday. Organized with the support of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the meeting brings together government representatives from member states of the Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF), the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Discussions are focusing on assessing progress in the development of landing sites for artisanal fisheries and on improving fisheries data collection. Participants will also plan a study of the fish-based animal feed industry and examine regional policy measures, drawing on input from member states and technical partners.

The meeting will also serve as a forum for reviewing and adopting the 2026-2028 work plan of the Artisanal Fisheries Working Group. According to Konlani Dindiogue, speaking on behalf of the fisheries minister, fishing, which is predominantly artisanal in the country, plays a major role in the national economy.

As such, “regional cooperation is a real necessity to address the challenges facing the sector, including growing pressure on fish stocks, illegal fishing, the effects of climate change, and conflicts over the use of maritime space,” he said.

The Lomé meeting is part of a regional cooperation effort aimed at addressing the structural challenges facing artisanal fisheries, notably their largely informal nature, insufficient official statistics and the overexploitation of fish stocks across the CECAF region.

In Togo, the fisheries sector generates nearly 20,000 tonnes of fish each year. About 90% of this production is processed through frying, drying or smoking, contributing to the incomes of thousands of people working throughout the fisheries value chain.

Esaïe Edoh

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... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

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 .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

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

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.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

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.