Togolese Entrepreneurs, Bankers to Meet in Lomé on Feb. 5 to Discuss Credit Access

Finance

Friday, 30 January 2026 18:53

Togolese Entrepreneurs, Bankers to Meet in Lomé on Feb. 5 to Discuss Credit Access

(Togo First) - Dialogue between business leaders and banking officials in Lomé continues to be marked by frequent misunderstandings. Entrepreneurs want quick financing tailored to their day-to-day operating needs, while bankers remain bound by risk management, compliance and profitability constraints. A meeting bringing both sides together will be held on Feb. 5 to address this structural tension.

The initiative is led by Edem d’Almeida, a cleantech entrepreneur and moderator of economic forums in Lomé. It aims to provide a space for direct dialogue between private sector actors and financiers outside formal institutional settings.

The debate will bring together two speakers with different professional backgrounds. Eric Atayi, managing director of EKEA SARL, a company active in technical services and equipment, faces the practical realities of financing small and medium-sized enterprises. François Aleke, a banking professional at Orabank, is well-versed in the requirements of risk management, compliance and profitability. They reflect two perspectives on a single central issue: access to financing.

These exchanges come as most companies remain outside the reach of the banking system. A World Bank Group study indicates that 55% of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) surveyed in Togo do not have access to bank financing. The Togo Private Sector Diagnostic highlights that more than 85% of companies operate in the informal sector, a situation that complicates risk assessment and access to credit.

The same document notes that bank credit to the private sector fell from 40% of GDP in 2015 to 26% in 2020. Financing remains concentrated on a limited number of companies and sectors, primarily services, leaving agriculture and a large share of SMEs further excluded. In this context, access to credit remains one of the main points of friction between entrepreneurs and financial institutions.

The discussion will be held at the ONOMO Hotel Lomé in an after-work networking format designed to encourage informal exchanges. The setting was chosen to address a central question directly: how to better align the dynamics of wealth creation with the financing that supports it in a Togolese economy seeking acceleration.

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.