Togo: China wants to help Togo address the security crisis in the Savanes region

Security

Friday, 19 January 2024 16:55

Togo: China wants to help Togo address the security crisis in the Savanes region

(Togo First) - China is interested in supporting Togo’s Emergency Program for the Savannah Region (PURS) and helping the African country better address the security crisis plaguing its northern region.

This was one of the topics covered during the recent visit of Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, in Lomé, the capital.

"China is very interested in supporting the PURS Program, especially in the context of the security issues in the north of our country," said government spokesman and Minister, Christian Trimua, after a meeting between President Faure Gnassingbé and Wang Yi.

PURS: An overview

The PURS is a multi-faceted initiative that aims to bolster infrastructure, agriculture, and power supply in northern Togo.

Togo so far has secured CFA30 billion for the project, from the Banque Ouest Africaine de Développement and the World Bank.

Defense and security

During Yi’s visit, the Chinese and Togolese sides explored future areas of mutual support.

It is worth noting that the Savanes region, where the PURS is implemented, is still under a state of emergency. This state was first introduced in June 2022 and reconducted several times by the Togolese Parliament as terrorists kept attacking the region. Last year, Lomé confirmed the deaths of at least 30 people linked to these "terrorist attacks".

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

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.