Lomé’s port is again recognized as the best transshipping port in West and Central Africa
Monday, 24 June 2019 17:56 
(Togo First) - For the third consecutive year, Lomé’s port (PAL) has been recognized by the African Ports Awards foundation as the best transshipping port in West and Central Africa.
The port received the award at the 40th annual council of the West and Central Africa Port Management Association (AGPAOC), held from June 17 to 20 in Lomé.
Besides this, the infrastructure was recognized as the port with the highest traffic volume increase, in the region.
Lauding the awards, Togo’s port authorities indicated they reflect efforts made to modernize Lomé’s port over the recent years but also added the recognition will drive them to keep pushing to make the PAL a true tool to accelerate regional integration.
“Now more than ever, the State has a major role to play to boost the port’s competitiveness, by launching mechanisms for concession and regulation of maritime and port activities,” declared Fogan Adegnon, Managing Director of PAL.
Besides Lomé’s port, the port of Tema in Ghana was recognized as that with the most productive container terminal in Central and West Africa. Meanwhile, Cotonou’s port in Benin is the best in regards to transit. The awards were given based on data provided in 2016, 2017 and 2018 by Codex, the African ports rating agency.
The three ports distinguished themselves in a pool of 24 ports, situated in West and Central Africa, along the coast going from Mauritania to Angola.
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 .
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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)
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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.
