Togo Engages in Global Talks on Ocean Protection and Sustainable Development

Public Management

Thursday, 18 June 2026 17:50

Togo Engages in Global Talks on Ocean Protection and Sustainable Development

(Togo First) - Togo is among the countries taking part in the 11th United Nations Ocean Conference, which continues through Thursday, June 18, 2026. By participating in the event, the country aims to deepen its understanding of global challenges related to ocean protection and the sustainable management of marine resources.

Togo is represented by a delegation of officials from the ministries responsible for the environment and maritime economy. The conference is being held under the theme, "Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future."

Discussions are focused on translating international commitments into practical measures to protect marine ecosystems and promote sustainable development. For Lomé, the conference represents an important opportunity to advance its efforts in marine conservation and ocean governance.

"One of the objectives of Togo's participation in this conference is to deepen its understanding of the global challenges surrounding ocean protection, while ensuring that the concerns of coastal communities are taken into account in the process of establishing marine protected areas in Togo," said the Director General of the Office for Forest Development and Exploitation (ODEF), who is a member of the Togolese delegation.

Biodiversity and Marine Protection Efforts

Already engaged in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which calls for protecting 30% of terrestrial and marine ecosystems by 2030, Togo also intends to use the conference discussions to refine a draft decree establishing the country's marine protected area.

The objective is to include stronger biodiversity conservation provisions while ensuring that the socioeconomic interests of coastal communities are adequately reflected in the proposed framework.

For the Togolese delegation, sustainable ocean management is a global challenge that extends beyond national borders. Addressing it will require closer cooperation among governments, international organizations, and civil society.

In this context, the gathering provides Togo, along with other African nations, an opportunity to contribute to discussions on global ocean governance and help shape the future of international marine policy.

Esaïe Edoh

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.