Over the past two years, Togo has improved its share in WAEMU’s exports

Commerce

Wednesday, 06 December 2017 14:41

Over the past two years, Togo has improved its share in WAEMU’s exports

(Togo First) - In 2016, Togo’s share in WAEMU’s total good exports (outside member-States) soared by 0.9% compared to the previous year. This was revealed in the BCEAO’s latest report on external trade within the community.

According to the report, Togo was more resilient to the drop in global commodity prices than its neighbor Benin whose good exports plunged significantly since 2014. It also fared better than Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso whose exports have been up and down over the past two years. From 3.6% in 2014, Togo’s share in the union’s exports rose to 3.8% in 2015, then 4.7% in 2016.

2016’s performance results from a rise in cement and clinker sales which have more than doubled (+105%). The same goes for oil products which soared by 45%.

Also behind the rise was the significant increase in palm oil exports which grew 45-fold following their crumbling in 2015.

However, regionally, exports of cotton, cocoa, oil products, coffee and even phosphate which is Togo’s main export, have slumped both in regards to volumes and value.

Indeed, WAEMU’s cotton exports slumped by 1.1% while cocoa’s and oil products’ decreased by 9.4% and 22% respectively.

Overall, Togo’s free-on-board (FOB) exports rose by nearly 15% compared to 2015 and 30% against 2014. Meanwhile, its cost-insurance-freight (CIF) imports slumped slightly by 0.2% in 2016 and 13% compared to 2014.

With such dynamism, Togo reduced its share in the union’s trade balance deficit, recording its second best performance in a decade.

Fiacre E. Kakpo

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.