Togo and Austria Sign Deal to Promote Safe and Regular Migration

Politics

Wednesday, 01 October 2025 12:56

Togo and Austria Sign Deal to Promote Safe and Regular Migration

Togo and Austria signed a memorandum of understanding in New York to regulate mobility and migration.
The deal emphasizes youth employment and entrepreneurship within safe, regular migration frameworks.
The agreement builds on Austria’s labor needs and its deepening ties with Togo, including its embassy opening in 2023.

Togo and Austria signed a memorandum of understanding last week in New York on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly. Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey and Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger signed the accord.

“This memorandum formally demonstrates the shared commitment of Vienna and Lomé to promote Youth employment and entrepreneurship within the framework of safe and regular migration.” Dussey said.

I had the great pleasure of signing, with my #Austrian counterpart H.E. Beate Meinl-Reisinger @BMeinl Federal Minister of European and International Affairs, a MOU between our two countries on development, #mobility and #migration.
This memorandum formally demonstrates the shared… pic.twitter.com/oX6mlP6XRP
— Robert Dussey (@rdussey) September 26, 2025

Officials have not disclosed detailed terms. However, the deal aims to structure mobility between the two countries, focusing on professional, academic, and circular migration. The partners intend to reduce irregular migration and improve security for migrant pathways.

The agreement comes as Austria seeks labor in specific sectors and works to diversify migration partnerships, especially in Africa. Togo, for its part, aims to expand opportunities for training and employment for its youth population.

The deal also reinforces relations between Lomé and Vienna. In October 2023, Austria opened an embassy in Togo, marking a milestone in bilateral cooperation.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh
Adapted 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.