Togo Reviews 2025 Reforms With Private Sector Partners

Economic governance

Monday, 08 December 2025 16:32

Togo Reviews 2025 Reforms With Private Sector Partners

(Togo First) - Togo’s State-Private Sector Consultation Committee (CCESP) reviewed its progress on Friday during its second technical dialogue meeting of the year, chaired by Finance Minister Georges Barcola. Economy and Strategic Foresight Minister Badanam Patoki also took part in the session.

Committee officials said the CCESP continues to play an important role in advancing economic reforms and supporting policies aimed at strengthening the private sector. They highlighted several measures adopted during the year.

These include the temporary suspension of customs duties on software imports, in effect since January 1, 2025, and a revision of the tax base for the levy applied to telecommunications and IT companies (TETTIC).

Additional measures were introduced to support key productive sectors. Value-added tax (VAT) was removed from inputs used in fishing, aquaculture and livestock activities, and reforms were launched to speed up VAT credit refunds in order to ease cash-flow pressure on businesses.

The committee also noted the introduction of a phased schedule for public procurement registration fees, intended to benefit small and medium-sized enterprises and micro-enterprises.

Finance Minister Barcola said these results reflect the constructive fiscal dialogue established between the state and the private sector. “This achievement must be preserved and strengthened,” he said.

Jonas Daou, president of the Association of Large Enterprises of Togo (AGET), emphasized the importance of collective action at a time when the country is entering a new political era. Referring to a recent address by President Faure Gnassingbé to Congress, he said cooperation between the public and private sectors is essential for promoting a development model that is both dynamic and socially inclusive.

During the meeting, participants also discussed measures to improve transparency, combat corruption and strengthen the business environment in order to stimulate investment and enhance competitiveness in Togo.

Created in 2017, the CCESP aims to foster dialogue and improve cooperation between public and private sector actors.

Esaïe 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.