Togo Reviews Investment Governance to Align with AfCFTA Investment Protocol

Economic governance

Thursday, 19 February 2026 09:51

Togo Reviews Investment Governance to Align with AfCFTA Investment Protocol

(Togo First) - Togo launched a three-day workshop on Wednesday to review its investment governance policy, aiming to align it with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Investment Protocol and promote a more integrated approach to sustainable development.

The workshop is led by the Ministry responsible for Investment Promotion and Economic Sovereignty in partnership with the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). It is held under the theme: “Reforming Investment Governance for Sustainable Development in Line with the AfCFTA Investment Protocol in Togo.”

The event follows the adoption of the AfCFTA Investment Protocol, which marks a new phase in investment governance across Africa.

The workshop will provide participants with an overview of Togo’s investment governance framework, focusing on key legal instruments. Attendees include representatives from public administrations, parliament, the private sector and development partners.

The initiative also seeks to deepen stakeholders’ understanding of the AfCFTA Investment Protocol and to spur discussions on the strategies and tools required to carry out comprehensive reforms of the country’s investment framework.

The reforms are intended to channel investment toward priority sectors while limiting economic, social and environmental risks. Togo has already aligned its development strategy with this approach, placing private investment, industrial transformation and mining development at its core.

“But our ambition is not limited to attracting more investment. Our ambition is to attract better investment: productive and responsible investment that creates value locally, respects the environment and generates decent jobs,” said Bedembada Bedinade, chief of staff at the ministry.

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.