Togo: UPRAD Starts Building New Headquarters in Lomé

Economic governance

Friday, 18 April 2025 08:20

Togo: UPRAD Starts Building New Headquarters in Lomé

(Togo First) - The new headquarters of Togo’s Professional Union of Customs Agents, also known as Union Professionnelle des Agréés en Douanes (UPRAD), will be in Lomé. Construction works for the building were kicked off on April 17 in the Golfe 1 municipality. Stéphane Akaya, Secretary General of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, led the groundbreaking ceremony on behalf of the Minister.

The project will cost CFA5 billion and will build a seven-story, 2,500 m² complex. The modern building will include offices, commercial spaces, a conference room, an infirmary, and an underground parking lot with 25 spaces. The design features a perforated facade to reduce solar heat and improve energy efficiency. The project owner expects completion within three years.

Patrick Magnon, UPRAD President, called the new headquarters a turning point for the union. “This project reflects our desire to equip our organization with an infrastructure that meets the current demands of our profession, and to strengthen our presence within the port and customs ecosystem,” he said.

UPRAD plans to use the headquarters as a hub for services, exchanges, and training for customs brokers. The building will help improve service quality and boost the national economy’s competitiveness.

Stéphane Akaya praised the initiative as a model of private-sector commitment. “It’s this private sector that we encourage: an enterprising sector, which invests in structuring projects and supports the modernization drive spearheaded by the government,” he said

UPRAD was formed to unite Togo’s customs brokers. Since its inception, it has worked to professionalize the trade, defend members’ interests, and build partnerships with customs and port authorities.

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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.