Kara to Host Second Togo–Benin Meeting on Strengthening Agribusiness Ties

Economic governance

Friday, 14 November 2025 02:02

Kara to Host Second Togo–Benin Meeting on Strengthening Agribusiness Ties

(Togo First) - The city of Kara in northern Togo will host the second regional meeting between the Togo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI-Togo) and the Benin Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI-Benin) from November 18 to 22, 2025. The event is part of the Regional Agricultural Market Integration Program (PRIMA).

The meeting aims to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries by promoting agricultural trade. It will bring together public decision-makers, entrepreneurs, institutional representatives, and farmer organizations around the theme “Intercommunity Market and Agricultural Enterprise Development: Strengthening the Competitiveness of Companies in Togo and Benin.”

Participants will exchange views on several topics related to agricultural development and cross-border trade facilitation. Various panels are scheduled from November 19 to 22, focusing on the promotion of local products, value chain development, and enhanced competitiveness for sector actors.

Alongside the discussions, a trade fair will be held on the esplanade of the Kara Congress Palace from November 18 to 22. It will showcase agricultural and agri-food products from both countries and serve as a platform for networking between Togolese and Beninese economic operators.

This initiative follows the first meeting held in December 2024 in Grand-Popo, Benin, where the two chambers laid the foundations for bilateral cooperation in the agricultural sector. The Kara discussions are expected to deepen this momentum and identify new strategies to create an enabling environment for sustainable and inclusive development of family farming, a key sector in the economies of Togo and Benin.

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.