Togo, UK Advance Economic Ties After Francophone Africa Forum

Economic governance

Friday, 14 November 2025 09:50

Togo, UK Advance Economic Ties After Francophone Africa Forum

Faure Gnassingbé met UK Trade Envoy Ben Coleman to advance economic and commercial ties.
The UK aims to expand investment and financing projects tailored to regional priorities.
The forum gathered 1,500 participants from ten African countries and UK companies, according to Coleman.

Togo and the United Kingdom strengthened their economic partnership on the sidelines of the 4th UK–Francophone West and Central Africa Forum. President of the Council Faure Gnassingbé held talks on Thursday, 13 November 2025, with Ben Coleman, the UK Trade Envoy for Francophone West Africa. The meeting extended discussions launched during the forum and focused on ways to deepen economic and commercial cooperation.

Ben Coleman said the objective of the meeting was to “deepen relations between the United Kingdom and Francophone West Africa on the commercial level.” He praised the involvement of the Togolese president and the quality of the conference, which gathered 1,500 participants from ten African countries and British companies, according to him.

Coleman emphasised the UK’s intention to broaden its partnerships in the region through investment and financing projects aligned with local priorities. The talks also addressed the implementation of the forum’s conclusions, particularly regarding access to capital, support for SMEs and measures to ease trade flows.

The Togolese side seeks to position the country as an anchor point for the UK in its cooperation with Francophone Africa. Lomé relies on its role as a regional logistics platform to strengthen its attractiveness and to serve as a bridge for British engagement in the region.

This article was initially published in French by R.E.D

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.