(Togo First) - Beyond financing and market access, product quality and compliance with standards could determine whether Togo’s micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) can achieve the next stage of growth.

That was the main takeaway from the third edition of Di-Kéti, the national entrepreneurship forum that opened on Friday, July 3, 2026, in Lomé. Experts, investors and policymakers gathered around a shared view that long-term business sustainability depends on businesses becoming more professionally managed. The initiative is led by the Ministry of Grassroots Development and the Social and Solidarity Economy through the Agency for the Development of Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (ADTPME).

The guest of honor at this year’s edition, Bloomfield Investment Corporation Chief Executive Officer Stanislas Zézé, stressed the need for Togolese entrepreneurs to adopt quality standards from the outset of building their businesses.

The Ivorian financier said building a successful company is a gradual process that requires continuous support. He said that is the value of a platform such as Di-Kéti, which is designed to promote good business practices and bring project leaders closer to market requirements.

“Building an entrepreneurial ecosystem takes time. It is not magic. The most important thing is to enter the process,” he said.

Certification Becomes an Economic Imperative

In an interview with the media on the sidelines of the forum’s opening ceremony, Stanislas Zézé focused particularly on agro-processing activities. According to him, certification is no longer simply a competitive advantage but an essential condition for a company’s credibility.

“When we talk about consumer products, there are public health issues. Many products were not yet certified, sometimes because young entrepreneurs did not see the need. Today, they understand that this process protects both consumers and the business,” he explained.

The expert said that beyond commercial risks, failing to comply with standards can expose producers to legal liability if consumers suffer harm. He said certification is an essential step toward gaining access to formal regional and international markets.

Supporting Businesses Rather Than Penalizing Them

The Bloomfield executive said raising product quality cannot happen without supporting businesses.

“Young entrepreneurs show a genuine willingness to improve. They want to learn, progress and adopt best practices. That is very encouraging,” he said, noting the progress made across successive editions of Di-Kéti.

That approach is consistent with the forum’s theme this year: “How to Grow and Sustain Your Business in a Changing African Environment.”

Over three days, nearly 5,000 entrepreneurs, investors, technical and financial partners, and representatives of the public and private sectors are discussing challenges related to financing, digital transformation, innovation, artificial intelligence and market access.

Building Businesses Capable of Sustained Growth

Opening the forum, Minister of Grassroots Development and the Social and Solidarity Economy Mazamesso Assih said Di-Kéti forms part of a broader strategy to make MSMEs a driver of job creation and economic transformation.

Since its launch in 2025, the event has sought to bring together entrepreneurs, investors, financial institutions and business support organizations to foster the growth of Togolese businesses.

According to the minister, the initiative is about more than holding an annual forum.

“What matters is what happens afterward: the contract signed, the financing secured, the partnership concluded or the skills acquired. We want Togolese entrepreneurship to grow, become more competitive and expand beyond our borders,” she said.

Through this third edition, the authorities aim to accelerate the transformation of MSMEs by focusing on three priorities: providing entrepreneurs with stronger support, bringing together ecosystem stakeholders around a shared vision, and improving management practices, business models and market access through training, networking and knowledge sharing.

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