Togo Launches Sixth Edition of “Consume Local” Month

Economic governance

Friday, 10 October 2025 15:31

Togo Launches Sixth Edition of “Consume Local” Month

(Togo First) - • Togo launched the sixth edition of its “Consume Local Month” on October 9, 2025, promoting Made-in-Togo products.
• The initiative, held under the UEMOA regional framework, focuses on skills and innovation to strengthen SME competitiveness.
• Authorities aim to increase domestic consumption and expand local value chains across sectors including agrifood, textiles, and cosmetics.

Togo officially launched the sixth edition of its annual “Consume Local Month” on October 9, 2025, in Lomé. The opening ceremony, chaired by Mensah Koffi Vinyo, Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Local Consumption, marked the start of a series of activities designed to promote local products and services under the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) initiative.

The 2025 edition, held under the theme “Skills and Innovation for the Competitiveness of Local Products,” highlights the role of entrepreneurship, creativity, and technical know-how in driving national economic growth.

Throughout October, authorities will organize training workshops for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), as well as conferences, company visits, trade fairs, and media campaigns across the country.

Officials said the objective is to boost consumption of local products and engage every link in the value chain — from production to marketing — in the nation’s economic development.

“It is about giving greater value to our agro-food, artistic, artisanal, textile, cosmetic, and service innovation potential,” said Mensah Koffi Vinyo. He added that the government views local production as a pillar of structural transformation and sustainable employment creation.

Since its launch in 2019 by the UEMOA Commission, “Consume Local Month” has become an annual event celebrated simultaneously across the bloc’s eight member states. The initiative aims to strengthen regional production capacity and reduce dependence on imports.

According to Abdoulaye Diop, UEMOA’s resident representative in Togo, the goal goes beyond product promotion. “It is no longer just about showcasing our products, but about understanding how skills and innovation transform our economies,” he said.

Throughout October, Togolese authorities and partners will assess progress made during previous editions and define new strategies to improve the competitiveness of local enterprises in both domestic and regional markets.

The event reinforces Togo’s ongoing commitment to industrial diversification, value chain development, and private sector empowerment, in line with the country’s 2025 national development 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.