CCA urges media to play their role in the implementation of reforms aiming to improve business environment

Economic governance

Monday, 26 February 2018 13:35

CCA urges media to play their role in the implementation of reforms aiming to improve business environment

(Togo First) - The training and information meeting between the Business Climate Cell (CCA) and media actors came to an end last Friday. It was themed “Business environment in Togo: Concepts, reforms and outlook”.

Talks at the meeting revolved around seven main topics namely transfer of ownership, business creation, access to power, access to loans, cross-border trade, construction permit and contracts execution.

Commenting on the event, CCA’s coordinator, Sandra Ablamba Johnson, said: “We are satisfied because a dynamic partnership was built between media actors and our departments in charge of reforms”. She added that media actors will produce news that will sensitize populations about the reforms, while making sure those are effectively implemented first. The goal is to establish task forces comprised of media actors focused on key topics, and in the long term, have expert journalists.

In response also, media actors have all approved CCA’s approach, saying they hope a more formal partnership will be put in place. Reassuring them, CCA’s coordinator said works are going on in this regard.

Subsequent to the workshop, CCA will organize a work session, by video conference, with World Bank, which is responsible for assessing the reforms. “We want to have an open discussion with the institution concerning some aspects that are important to us”, Johnson said, emphasizing that expert journalists will be invited to take part in the video conference.

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.