Togo Reviews National Strategy for Implementing African Continental Free Trade Agreement

Economic governance

Tuesday, 03 June 2025 09:36

Togo Reviews National Strategy for Implementing African Continental Free Trade Agreement

(Togo First) - Togo conducted a comprehensive review of its national strategy for implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. Launched in 2019, the strategy ran through to 2024.

The technical committee overseeing the AfCFTA strategy met from May 28 to 30 in Kpalimé to evaluate the document. Their goal was to assess the full implementation of the five-year action plan and prepare for its upcoming revision, given recent developments.

The evaluation highlighted the strategy’s strengths and weaknesses amid intense regional competition and measured how well priority actions were executed. Participants also examined the coherence and synergy of sectoral activities under the AfCFTA framework, offering recommendations to improve effectiveness.

They identified challenges, opportunities, and emerging issues, including those related to additional protocols, operational tools, and regional and global dynamics.

The Ministry of Commerce led the initiative with support from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Adopted in 2019, Togo’s AfCFTA strategy targets key value chains such as agriculture, phosphate processing, oil production, and services including telecommunications, business services, finance, and tourism.

This article was initially published in French by Esaie Edoh

Edited 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... .

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.