ECOWAS at 50: EBID Showcases Development Impact at Lomé Event

Banking

Friday, 30 May 2025 13:54

ECOWAS at 50: EBID Showcases Development Impact at Lomé Event

(Togo First) - The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) celebrated its 50th anniversary with a high-profile event in Lomé on May 27, bringing together senior executives, public and private sector leaders, financiers, insurers, investors, and entrepreneurs.

1 reu

During the celebration, EBID—the main financial arm of the West African regional body ECOWAS—outlined its mission, showcased its partnerships, and highlighted its impact on regional development.

“We are not just celebrating five decades of collaboration, but also reflecting on our progress and the challenges ahead,” said Moctar Coulibaly, Secretary General of EBID, representing President George Agyekum Donkor at the event. “Since its inception, ECOWAS has transformed from a regional trading bloc into a driving force for economic growth. As the Community’s Development Finance Institution, EBID is dedicated to financing infrastructure and supporting private sector growth in vital sectors such as energy, health, agriculture, education, and transport,” Coulibaly added.

A necessary partnership with the private sector

EBID’s SG underscored the private sector’s importance in addressing West Africa’s development needs. “The infrastructure gap in our sub-region, estimated at around $3 billion per year by the ECOWAS Project Preparation and Development Unit, cannot be closed by public resources alone—especially in today’s challenging global economic environment,” he said. “Public-private partnerships have proven essential in mobilizing resources, sharing risks, and delivering essential services.”

A call to action

The anniversary also served as a call to action, urging the development of stronger regional institutions, harmonized policies, and increased investment in human capital. The Golden Jubilee celebrations began in Accra, Ghana, on May 22, and will continue across ECOWAS member states.

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.