Togo to Host Major AfCFTA Trade and Investment Forum This October

Economic governance

Thursday, 07 August 2025 13:38

Togo to Host Major AfCFTA Trade and Investment Forum This October

(Togo First) - Lomé will host the third edition of the Biashara Africa Forum from October 20 to 22, 2025, bringing together business leaders and policy-makers to boost trade and investment across Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.

Togo confirmed its readiness to host the event during a meeting held on August 6 between Faure Gnassingbé, President of the Togolese Council, and Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA, who was in Lomé on a working visit.

“The purpose of our visit today is to assess the Togolese government's offer to host the third edition of Biashara Africa,” said Mene. “We are grateful that Togo has agreed to host this major event,” he added, praising Lomé’s strong commitment to Africa’s economic integration.

Save the Date!
Biashara Afrika 2025
20–22 October | Lomé, Togo
The AfCFTA’s premier platform for public-private dialogue returns — connecting businesses, policymakers, and innovators to shape Africa’s trade future.#BA2025 | #CreatingOneAfricanMarket pic.twitter.com/sfjxeQ62Va
— AfCFTA Secretariat Official (@AfCFTA) May 22, 2025

The Biashara Africa Forum aims to provide a high-level platform where public officials and private sector actors can discuss trade implementation strategies and identify investment opportunities under the AfCFTA.

This year’s edition will focus on removing barriers to market access, sharing commercial data, and providing regulatory guidance to businesses. Organizers say these tools will help African companies make better decisions when entering or expanding into new markets within the continent.

Le Président du Conseil, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé a accordé ce mercredi 06 août 2025 une audience à Monsieur Wamkele Mene, Secrétaire général de la Zone de libre-échange continentale africaine (ZLECAF) en visite de travail à Lomé.https://t.co/4P3JRjXb5G pic.twitter.com/O7dUj50EMl
— Présidence du Conseil du Togo (@presidencecstg) August 6, 2025

On the sidelines of the forum announcement, Wamkele Mene and President Gnassingbé reviewed the progress of AfCFTA implementation and Togo’s contributions to the integration effort.

“I congratulated the president on Togo’s involvement in this process. The country was among the first to implement the AfCFTA. It has strategic infrastructures, such as an efficient deep-water port, and is positioning itself as a logistics and transport hub for West and Central Africa,” Mene said.

The AfCFTA, a flagship African Union initiative under Agenda 2063, seeks to create a single market for goods and services by reducing trade barriers among member states. The agreement is designed to boost intra-African trade, attract investments, and enhance Africa’s global competitiveness.

Esaie Edoh

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.