Lomé to host first cybersecurity summit in Africa this week

ITC

Monday, 21 March 2022 16:11

Lomé to host first cybersecurity summit in Africa this week

(Togo First) - Africa’s first cybersecurity summit will be held in Lomé this week, on March 23 and 24. Announced months ago, the summit was postponed because of the pandemic.

Co-organized by the Togolese Republic and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the event will gather several African officials, and private actors operating in the IT security sector. They will discuss many topics, with cybersecurity and digital development experts. Among others, the Togolese Presidency said, participants, will explore innovative approaches to meet the challenges of cybersecurity on the continent, the challenges of cybersecurity in public policy, funding, and operationalization of cybersecurity strategies.

“Discussions will also focus on the challenges of cybersecurity at a time when biometric identification is emerging in Africa, and on the sideline of the implementation of a public-private partnership and synergies between the CERT (editor's note: Computer Emergency Response Team) and the SOC (editor's note: operational security center based in Lome), as well as the identification and implementation of key success factors to strengthen regional collaboration in cybersecurity,” the Presidency added.

Steered by the Togolese Ministry of Digital Economy and Technological Innovation, the upcoming summit also comes at a time when the Russia-Ukraine conflict is reviving interest in cybersecurity issues, with a spike in cyberattacks observed on the sidelines of military confrontations, according to several international sources.

The Togolese Cyber Defense

Togo's cybersecurity efforts include its National Cybersecurity Agency (ANCy), as well as a National Cybersecurity Incident Response Center (CERT) whose mission is to identify, analyze and mitigate cyber threats affecting the Togolese state, citizens, businesses, and organizations.

The country has entered into a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with Poland's Asseco, for ASSECO Data Systems, to set up Cyber Defense Africa. This is a joint venture that provides services to defend Togo’s cyberspace and helps government agencies and private companies in the sub-region make their infrastructure safer.

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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.