Togo Launches 13th Adjafi Fair to Boost Young Entrepreneurs and MSME Competitiveness

Economic governance

Tuesday, 26 August 2025 13:20

Togo Launches 13th Adjafi Fair to Boost Young Entrepreneurs and MSME Competitiveness

(Togo First) - The 13th edition of the Adjafi Fair, dedicated to young entrepreneurs, officially started on August 25, 2025, in Lomé. Minister Mazamesso Assih, responsible for Grassroots Development, Financial Inclusion, Youth, and Youth Employment, launched the three-week event. The fair aims to create opportunities, spark innovation, build networks, and promote business growth among young entrepreneurs.

This year’s theme, “Agri-food: improving the packaging of Togolese products for greater competitiveness of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market,” stresses the critical role packaging plays in product success. Organizers say the event will raise awareness among young business leaders about how good packaging can boost their products’ value on the African market. The goal is to help MSMEs adopt best practices and position themselves strongly within the AfCFTA framework.

The program includes a trade exhibition, an economic forum, a round table, a trade show, and special themed days focusing on growth and competitiveness. Organizers will also run a call for projects competition, aiming to identify and support 20 promising business initiatives.

Maxime Minasseh, promoter of the Adjafi Fair, explained, “We have several activities that showcase young people and support them in their growth. They have the opportunity to network to improve their offerings and make their products more competitive.”

The fair will run until September 7, drawing more than 300 entrepreneurs from multiple sectors. According to the organizers, it attracts around 8,000 visitors daily.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

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.