Togo Boosts Exports to Sahel in 2023 as Côte d’Ivoire Falls Behind

Economic governance

Tuesday, 29 July 2025 06:12

Togo Boosts Exports to Sahel in 2023 as Côte d’Ivoire Falls Behind

(Togo First) - In 2023, Togo exported more than CFA433 billion in goods to countries within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), according to BCEAO data. Burkina Faso, Benin, and Mali led the way, receiving CFA100 billion, 98.3 billion, and 94.8 billion in exports respectively. Together, these three nations accounted for over two-thirds of Togo’s regional exports.

Meanwhile, Togo imported CFA207.2 billion worth of goods from the six other WAEMU member states. This volume stood at nearly half of the country’s exports, giving Togo a trade surplus topping CFA226 billion in intra-WAEMU trade.

This surplus reflects Togo’s strategic role as a logistics and port center. Lomé acts as a primary gateway for imported products destined for its hinterland neighbors, particularly Sahel countries like Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali. Many goods reach these landlocked nations through the Autonomous Port of Lomé, either repackaged or in transit. For example, Togo’s exports to Niger totaled CFA38.4 billion, supporting this redistribution function alongside the larger flows to Burkina Faso.

Côte d’Ivoire, the largest economy in the Union, ranked as a distant second trade partner. Togo exported CFA64.5 billion worth of goods to Abidjan while importing CFA60.3 billion in return, showing near parity in bilateral trade.

This article was initially translated in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

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.