World Bank delegation meet Togolese authorities to discuss Togo’s performance under 2017 CPIA

Economic governance

Wednesday, 03 October 2018 18:32

World Bank delegation meet Togolese authorities to discuss Togo’s performance under 2017 CPIA

(Togo First) - Last Monday, World Bank experts and officials from various ministries gathered for a workshop to discuss the 2017 edition of the Country Policy and Institutional Assessment for Togo.

Among officials present were the minister of development planning, Kossi Assimaïdou, the minister in charge of the coordination of MCA-Togo, Stanislas Baba, the Permanent secretary supervising reform policies and financial programs, Mongo Aharh-Kpessou, the National Coordinator of the Business Climate Cell, Sandra Johnson, and the World Bank’s resident representative, Hawa Cissé Wagué.

During the meeting, the World Bank delegation briefly discussed Togo’s performance saying the country’s score grew by a point to stand at 3.1 pt (due mainly to an improvement of the Economic Management indicator). In detail, participants talked about the economy’s strengths, weaknesses and ways to improve its score in the CPIA, thus helping it secure more of the IDA’s financing.

The World Bank urged Togolese authorities to commit more to the reduction of budget deficits, multiply its efforts to reverse public debt curve, and end pre-financing and other extra-budgetary financing mechanisms. However, the Bretton Woods institution congratulated authorities for establishing the OTR which helped collect more taxes, posting online detailed budget data and budget execution reports, putting in place a performant framework to implement reforms needed to improve the business environment and boost social inclusion.

Despite these achievements, Togo still has a lot to do to move up in the CPIA ranking, reaching nations such as Senegal (one of the best in the region) or Rwanda (one of the best in Africa and the world).

The CPIA, let’s recall aims to direct reforms needed to boost the economy of countries illegible to World Bank’s IDA financing. Over the past decade, Togo’s score in three out of four of the rankings' indicators (namely economic management, structural policies, and institutional management) slightly rose.

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.