UNIDO to Support Togo in Implementing National Industrial Strategy

Economic governance

Friday, 10 October 2025 14:44

UNIDO to Support Togo in Implementing National Industrial Strategy

(Togo First) - • UNIDO will assist Togo in implementing its national industrialization strategy, aligned with the government’s 2025 Roadmap.
• The partnership will focus on agro-industry, textiles, and local product processing, as well as industrial park development and SME financing.
• A Country Partnership Programme (PCP) is under consideration to strengthen industrial competitiveness and youth and women employment.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) will support Togo in executing its national industrialization agenda, following a meeting on October 8, 2025, between President of the Council Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé and Tidiane Boyé, UNIDO’s resident representative for Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Niger, and Togo.

The discussions focused on ways to accelerate Togo’s industrial ambitions, which center on the Adétikopé Industrial Platform (PIA) — a flagship project launched in 2021 to drive manufacturing-led growth.

Under the new cooperation framework, UNIDO plans to assist Togo in modernizing key industrial sectors, including agro-processing, textiles, and local product transformation. These sectors are identified as priority areas under the government’s 2025 Development Roadmap.

The organization also aims to foster a business-friendly environment by promoting quality standards, certification systems, and industrial competitiveness, while enhancing the institutional capacity of national agencies responsible for industrial development.

“We have received the President’s orientations regarding his priorities, notably the promotion of youth and women’s employment and the facilitation of access for Togolese products to regional and international markets,” said Tidiane Boyé after the meeting.

The UN agency’s support aligns with Togo’s goal to expand export-driven industrialization while increasing domestic value addition.

According to the Presidency of the Council, UNIDO is preparing to assist Togo through a Country Partnership Programme (PCP) aligned with national priorities. The initiative will focus on developing industrial parks; promoting innovative energy solutions; and facilitating financing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

UNIDO also expressed its willingness to collaborate on projects promoting youth and women entrepreneurship, a key pillar of the government’s inclusive growth strategy.

This article was initially published in French by Esaie Edoh

Adapted 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.