Private Sector: Togo and Turkey Explore New Cooperation Paths

Economic governance

Tuesday, 03 June 2025 17:14

Private Sector: Togo and Turkey Explore New Cooperation Paths

(Togo First) - About 30 Togolese and Turkish entrepreneurs gathered in Lomé on May 27 for the Turkey-Togo Business Forum. The World Cooperation Industries Forum (WCI Forum) organized the event to boost economic cooperation between the two countries.

Business leaders from sectors like food processing, electrical appliances, construction, agriculture, textiles, industrial materials, and cosmetics discussed investment opportunities in Togo. They explored partnerships to support Togo’s economic diversification efforts.

The organizers aim for this forum to go beyond simple trade talks. They want it to become a strategic platform linking economic and political leaders. Their goal is to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and strengthen economic ties between Lomé and Ankara.

José Symenouh, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Togo (CCI-Togo), opened the forum by saying, “Our dynamic private sector, backed by a strategic vision, is ready to forge solid partnerships. Togo is a strategic hub, with a competitive Free Zone and an ever-improving business climate.”

The CCI-Togo highlighted Togo’s key advantages to Turkish partners. These include the Autonomous Port of Lomé, the only deep-water port in the region that can handle large vessels. They also pointed to Togo’s strong financial ecosystem, supported by major regional institutions like BOAD, BIDC, and the pan-African banking group Ecobank.

This Lomé forum follows an earlier economic meeting held in Aného in November 2024, where operators from both countries made initial contacts. These efforts aim to build a long-term trade relationship between Togo and Turkey.

Muteber Kılıç, Turkish ambassador to Togo, noted that trade between the two countries reached nearly $300 million in 2023.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe 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.