Ecobank Reaffirms Its Role in Togo’s Economic Development

Economic governance

Wednesday, 12 November 2025 06:52

Ecobank Reaffirms Its Role in Togo’s Economic Development

Ecobank CEO Jeremy Awori met with President Faure Gnassingbé in Abu Dhabi to discuss strengthening the bank’s role in Togo’s economic development.
The Lomé-based pan-African lender plans to deepen support for financial inclusion, industrialization, and cross-border trade.
Ecobank co-financed the Adétikopé Industrial Platform (PIA) and promotes SME growth through the Ellevate by Ecobank program for women entrepreneurs.

Togo’s President of the Council Faure Gnassingbé and Jeremy Awori, CEO of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), held talks on November 10 in Abu Dhabi to explore how the bank can expand its contribution to Togo’s economic development. The meeting occurred on the sidelines of the Chad Trade and Investment Forum.

Headquartered in Lomé, Ecobank is considered one of the key players supporting Togo’s economic transformation. Its strategy aligns with government priorities such as financial inclusion, industrialization, and regional trade integration.

The pan-African financial institution intends to intensify its activities in these areas to strengthen its impact on growth. “As a banker, I shared with the President our initiatives to support the growth of African countries and economies,” Awori said after the meeting.

En séjour à Abu Dhabi dans le cadre du Forum sur le commerce et l’investissement au Tchad, le Président du Conseil, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé s’est entretenu ce 10 novembre 2025 avec le Directeur général de l’Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), Jérémy Awori.… pic.twitter.com/QbO229264Q
— Présidence du Conseil du Togo (@presidencecstg) November 11, 2025

Ecobank has been active in financing several strategic national projects, including the Adétikopé Industrial Platform (PIA), a 400-hectare industrial zone developed alongside Afreximbank and BIA Togo.

The bank also backs small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through dedicated credit lines, with a special focus on women-led businesses under its Ellevate by Ecobank initiative.

In addition, Ecobank contributes to improving Togo’s business environment by digitizing banking services, which simplifies access to financial solutions for individuals and companies.

Present in 35 African countries and employing over 14,000 staff, Ecobank has maintained a strong presence in Togo’s financial landscape for four decades.

Over the past five years, its Togolese subsidiary has been named “Bank of the Year” by The Banker awards, reaffirming its market leadership and commitment to pan-African financial integration.

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.