Togo, Japan chambers of commerce sign deal to deepen trade ties

Economic governance

Monday, 25 August 2025 05:27

Togo, Japan chambers of commerce sign deal to deepen trade ties

(Togo First) - The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Togo (CCI-Togo) and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Osaka (CCI-Osaka) signed a cooperation agreement on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. The deal was formalized by José Symenouh, president of CCI-Togo, and Shingo Torii, president of CCI-Osaka, during Togo’s Economic Day at Expo 2025 Osaka.

The agreement aims to stimulate trade, encourage technology transfers, and support small and medium-sized enterprises from both countries in expanding internationally. Priority sectors include innovation, sustainable industry, energy transition, digital transformation, agribusiness, and logistics.

Through this partnership, Togolese companies will gain easier access to the Japanese market, especially in Osaka, one of Japan’s key economic hubs. Japanese businesses, in turn, will benefit from greater knowledge of the Togolese market and the broader West African region, where Togo plays a strategic role as a logistics hub through the Port of Lomé.

Dans le cadre de sa participation à l’exposition universelle 2025 à Osaka au Japon, le Togo a tenu mardi 19 août une journée économique avec plusieurs activités au menu...

➡️https://t.co/4W0zJ5w9sA #Denyigban #Togo??#CCITogo #ExpoOsaka2025 pic.twitter.com/Fd8NB8RsDJ
— Ministère du Commerce - TOGO (@CommercegouvTg) August 21, 2025

The convention marks another step in Togo’s strategy to strengthen ties with Asian markets, following similar agreements with countries such as China. It also deepens economic and trade cooperation between Lomé and Tokyo.

According to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, cumulative financial support from Japan to Togo reached nearly 41 billion yen (about CFA186 billion) by the end of 2022. On the trade side, bilateral exchanges in 2023 stood at 2.27 billion yen in Togolese exports to Japan — mainly sesame and non-ferrous metals — against 3.12 billion yen in imports from Japan, including fibers and machinery.

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.