UK, Philippines and Italy Appoint New Ambassadors to Togo

Economic governance

Friday, 10 October 2025 16:02

UK, Philippines and Italy Appoint New Ambassadors to Togo

Togo received three new ambassadors from the United Kingdom, the Philippines and Italy on October 8, 2025.
The UK plans to expand trade and investment in finance, maritime logistics and infrastructure.
The Philippines and Italy aim to boost cooperation in transport, security, and cultural development.

Togo has welcomed three new ambassadors representing the United Kingdom, the Philippines, and Italy, as part of its ongoing efforts to diversify diplomatic and economic partnerships.

President Jean-Lucien Kwassi Lanyo Savi de Tové received the diplomats on October 8, 2025, as they presented their credentials during a ceremony in Lomé.

British ambassador Robert John Marshall said the UK seeks to deepen economic and commercial cooperation with Togo. He emphasized a focus on private investment and job creation, aligning with Lomé’s broader strategy to diversify funding sources.

“The United Kingdom is already active in finance and maritime logistics,” Marshall said, noting that London could increase participation in infrastructure and services projects. This renewed engagement comes as Togo positions itself as a growing logistics and investment hub in West Africa.

From Asia, Mersole Jala Mellejor, the new ambassador of the Philippines, said his mandate will focus on strengthening collaboration in air and maritime transport as well as logistics. Both countries, he added, share complementary advantages in these sectors.

Manila, a leading player in Southeast Asia’s port services industry, could assist Lomé in consolidating its status as a regional logistics hub, leveraging its port of Lomé as a gateway for regional trade.

Italy’s new envoy, Laura Ranali, said Rome aims to reinforce bilateral relations with Lomé in security cooperation, economic development, and cultural exchange. Her statement reflects Italy’s recent push to expand its footprint across West Africa through strategic and people-centered partnerships.

For Togo, these new appointments represent an opportunity to sustain its policy of partnership diversification and international engagement.

R.E.D

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.