Togo: EU, Germany commit new financing for Emergency Program for the Savannes Region

Economic governance

Tuesday, 22 November 2022 02:07

Togo: EU, Germany commit new financing for Emergency Program for the Savannes Region

(Togo First) - The European Union and Germany announced on November 18, 2022, additional financing to support the Emergency Program for the Savannes Region (PURS) in Togo.

In detail, the EU will disburse €5 million while Germany will increase bilateral funds for its ProEnergie project.

The EU allocation, a grant, will be mobilized under the crisis response component of the new "Global Europe" tool. As for Germany, it will disclose the exact amount during bilateral negotiations at the end of November 2022 in Berlin.

The new financing should help extend access to basic social services for the most vulnerable population in the Savanes region, which is facing a terrorist threat.

Specifics

Over 2,500 households, across 17 localities in the Savannes region, will have access to power as a result of the project. A statement also claims that about 10 peripheral health care units will be electrified by solar technology and get medical equipment such as autoclaves for sterilization, blood analyzers, centrifuges, microscopes, and other ICT equipment (laptops, printers).

Part of the new funds will also finance vocational training for youth and women on entrepreneurship and the productive use of electricity.

It should be noted that last January, the EU signed with the Togolese authorities the joint document of multi-year programming (DCP) which provides for the actions it will carry out to support Togo’s development over the period 2021-2027.

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.