Germany, Togo discuss cooperation on Lomé port infrastructure and security

Economic governance

Wednesday, 13 May 2026 15:06

Germany, Togo discuss cooperation on Lomé port infrastructure and security

(Togo First) - Germany has expressed its readiness to support future modernization projects at the Port of Lomé. Serap Güler, Germany's Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office, visited the port facility on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, where she discussed the prospects for such cooperation with Togolese Minister of Maritime Economy Edem Kokou Tengue.

During the visit, Tengue outlined Togo's ambitions for the port. "Our ambition is clear: to make the Autonomous Port of Lomé a world-class port — connected, intelligent, resilient and firmly committed to the ecological transition. German expertise remains, across all these areas, a leading partner," he said.

Togo also leveraged the visit to call for greater German support in combating piracy and illicit trafficking in the Gulf of Guinea, as well as in promoting sustainable management of the blue economy, in line with the Lomé Charter adopted in October 2016.

The Port of Lomé is the only natural deep seaport on the West African coast. It accommodates the largest vessels currently in service and serves a hinterland estimated at more than 80 million consumers, particularly in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Equipped with container, bulk carrier, hydrocarbon, ore and fishing terminals, it has established itself as a leading regional logistics hub.

The deep seaport of Lomé, inaugurated on April 26, 1968, was designed by German engineering firms, more than 70% financed by Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) and built by a consortium of German companies led by Hochtief AG. Nearly six decades after it opened, it has risen to become the leading container port in West Africa.

For Tengue, the Port of Lomé is one of the most tangible expressions of German-Togolese friendship. "To welcome today a senior German official on these docks is also to pay tribute to the vision of the builders who, nearly sixty years ago, laid the foundations of our logistical sovereignty," he said.

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.