Togo First
Togo launches database overhaul for key agricultural value chains
Togo launched a new phase in updating databases for its pineapple, mango, corn, soybean and cassava sectors in late February 2026, starting with training sessions for sector technicians on approved registration criteria for stakeholders.
The training, held across several regions, is part of a broader data update process. It equips technicians with procedures for data collection, processing and database development. The system is fully digital: field agents will use smartphones connected to the internet to transmit data in real time.
The initiative, led by the agriculture ministry with support from the Program for Promoting Private Sector Competitiveness (ProComp), aims to establish a reliable platform to identify stakeholders across targeted value chains. Authorities expect this to improve the efficiency of interprofessional organizations and help better target public and private interventions.
In the longer term, the government aims to boost productivity, profitability and output across these value chains, while strengthening the competitiveness of agricultural activities.
The update is expected to be completed by the end of April 2026. The training phase, which followed the review and approval of stakeholder eligibility criteria, will be followed by the registration of sector participants.
Esaïe Edoh
Smartphone competition in Togo shifts toward AI features
TECNO Mobile launched its Camon 50 smartphone in Togo on Tuesday, positioning the device as an affordable option in an increasingly competitive market where artificial intelligence has become a key differentiator.
The Chinese handset maker unveiled the phone at the Hôtel 2 Février in Lomé, continuing a strategy introduced with the Camon 40 to bring AI features to affordable smartphones in an African market with strong demand for versatile devices.
From Photography to Broader AI Uses
While photography has traditionally been the focus of the Camon lineup, TECNO is shifting its approach with the Camon 50 and Camon Pro toward a broader mix of content creation, digital assistance and user support tools.
The new model includes AI features that can automatically summarize online videos, create new visuals from existing images and recognize audio in real time. It also offers real-time conversation translation, text correction and summarization, as well as tools for generating creative content, said Sonia Kpakpayi, training manager at TECNO Mobile Togo.
A “Student Mode” for Educational Use
Another addition is a “student mode”, designed to guide users through solving problems without providing direct answers. The feature targets educational use of smartphones, which has become increasingly widespread.
This reflects a broader trend among smartphone makers, where AI is emerging as a key differentiator. In markets such as Togo, it marks a notable shift, as competing devices often limit AI functions to photography or performance optimization.
A Multipurpose Personal Assistant
With the full Camon 50 lineup — including the Camon 50, Camon Pro and Camon Ultra — TECNO is expanding the range of use cases. The addition of student-focused features and basic health monitoring tools signals an effort to position the smartphone as a multipurpose personal assistant, in line with growing digital usage, particularly among urban youth.
Manufacturers continue to emphasize traditional features such as battery life, durability and display quality. On those fronts, the Camon 50 highlights a high-capacity battery, improved durability for everyday use and sustained performance over time. TECNO Mobile Togo General Manager Papa Thiam Medoune described the device as offering good value for money for a broad consumer base.
For TECNO, which has a strong presence across Africa and particularly in Togo, the objective is to strengthen its market position by focusing on innovations that are directly accessible to users. As smartphones become the main gateway to digital services, embedded AI could play a decisive role in purchasing decisions.
S.A
Togo’s Yas, Moov Top WAEMU Mobile Internet Rankings in 2025
Togo’s two main mobile operators delivered strong performance across the WAEMU zone in mobile internet services in 2025, the country’s telecommunications regulator (ARCEP) said in a statement on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
According to a report by nPerf, an independent international platform measuring internet service user experience, Yas Togo and Moov Africa Togo ranked first and second, respectively, in mobile internet quality across the WAEMU zone. Togo therefore remains the region’s top-performing country for mobile internet in 2025, as in 2023.
While both operators dominate the WAEMU rankings, they are also among the top 10 operators in Africa, ranking seventh and ninth overall across all indicators and technologies. Performance was assessed using five key quality of experience (QoE) indicators: average download speed, average upload speed, latency, web browsing and video streaming.
ARCEP welcomed the results but noted that “quality of experience still falls short of expectations for the two main uses of mobile internet, namely web browsing and video streaming.” The regulator called for continued improvements to deliver an optimal experience to consumers.
As in the previous report, the study is based on overall mobile internet performance in Togo across all technologies, with a particular focus on 4G, which accounts for nearly 85% of national traffic.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo raises cement quality requirements to improve market standards
Togo on Monday introduced three new cement standards aimed at improving product quality in the domestic market, promoting fair competition, ensuring infrastructure safety and protecting consumers and the environment.
The standards were presented to cement producers and importers operating in the country at a meeting held in Lomé the same day. The initiative is led by the ministry in charge of investment promotion and economic sovereignty, through the Haute Autorité de la Qualité et de l’Environnement (HAUQE) and the Agence togolaise de normalisation (ATN). The move is part of broader efforts to improve construction material quality and strengthen consumer protection.
The new standards set technical requirements for the composition, performance and testing of cement sold in Togo. Authorities say they aim to ensure that products on the market comply with reliable and recognised specifications.
According to the ministry, the reform also seeks to ensure fair competition between producers and importers “while combating the circulation of products that could compromise the safety of public and private infrastructure.” It is also expected to reduce risks linked to non-compliant products, improve construction quality and enhance the safety of buildings and infrastructure.
Four companies dominate Togo’s cement market: Germany’s HeidelbergCement, through its subsidiary CimTogo; Burkina Faso’s CIL Metal, under the Cimco brand; India’s WACEM, which markets the Fortia and Diamond brands; and Nigeria’s Dangote, present with Dangote Cement.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo opens review of 2021-2030 research and innovation policy
Togo is updating its National Research and Innovation Policy (PNRI) for 2021–2030. The document, validated in 2021, is being reviewed at a meeting that opened in Lomé on Monday, March 16, 2026, organized by education sector stakeholders.
The three-day session brings together representatives from ministries, research institutions, universities, the private sector and civil society organizations. Participants aim to set new policy directions. The document will be revised to align it with current national needs and make the strategy fully operational.
According to the Minister of National Education, Mama Omorou, the updated policy must address several priorities.
“It must first strengthen governance of the national research and innovation system to improve coordination among stakeholders and ensure more efficient use of resources,” Omorou said. “It must also promote applied research and innovation by strengthening links between universities, research centers and industry.”
The new directions should also help promote a strong scientific culture, particularly among young people.
“A nation that values science prepares its youth to invent the future rather than endure it,” the minister said.
After the meeting, the revised document will be submitted for government approval. The process is supported by UNESCO.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo’s demographic survey to run up to four months, results due in 2027
Togo launched its fourth Demographic and Health Survey (EDST-IV) on Saturday, March 14, 2026. The survey, carried out by the government through the National Institute of Statistics, Economic and Demographic Studies (INSEED), is expected to run for three to four months and aims to produce updated data on the country’s health and social conditions.
The survey will cover a sample of 10,000 households. It targets women and men aged 15 to 64, as well as children under five and those aged 6 to 59 months for certain health tests.
Field teams will conduct household interviews alongside anthropometric measurements, water quality tests and blood samples to assess the prevalence of malaria, HIV and hepatitis B.
EDST-IV will update indicators related to maternal and child health, nutrition, vaccination, fertility and family planning. The data will be used to guide public policy, track Togo’s international commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and evaluate ongoing programs.
The launch followed government approval at the Council of Ministers on March 11, 2026, where the health minister presented the project. The government instructed relevant agencies to take the necessary steps to ensure smooth implementation across the country.
“I want to assure citizens that all information collected in this survey will be strictly confidential and used solely for statistical purposes, in accordance with international data protection standards,” said Dr. Kokou Wotobé, secretary general of the Ministry of Health, at the launch.
The survey is supported by several technical and financial partners, including the World Bank and the World Health Organization. It is part of the fifth General Population and Housing Census (RGPH 5) and comes more than ten years after the previous survey, conducted in 2013-2014.
Results are expected in 2027, according to the government.
R.E.D.
Regional disparities drive food price gaps across Togo
A kilogram of tomatoes costs 992 CFA francs in Lomé in February 2026. In Kara, the same quantity sells for 529 francs. In the Savanes region, it drops to 471 francs, less than half the capital’s price. The gap reflects a reality Togolese households face daily: food prices vary widely across regions.
Data published by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic and Demographic Studies (INSEED) for February 2026 provides a precise measure of these differences, product by product.
Cereals: Cheaper outside Lomé
For staples such as rice and corn, the pattern is clear: the farther from Lomé, the lower the price. Imported long-grain rice sells for 636 CFA francs per kilogram in Greater Lomé, compared with 415 francs in Plateaux-Est, a difference of more than 50%. White corn follows the same trend, at 231 CFA francs per kilogram in Lomé versus 143 francs in Kara and 147 francs in the Savanes. For households consuming several kilograms of cereals each week, the gap quickly adds up over a month.
The difference largely reflects proximity to production areas. Northern Togo is a major agricultural zone, where cereals move directly from farms to local markets without the transport costs and intermediaries that push up prices in the capital.
Fresh vegetables: The pattern reverses
For some vegetables, the trend moves in the opposite direction. Green chili peppers are far more expensive in Plateaux-Est, at 1,356 CFA francs per kilogram, than in Lomé at 919 francs or in the Savanes at 624 francs. Yam costs 451 CFA francs per kilogram in Lomé, compared with 338 francs in the Centrale region. These gaps reflect local supply chains and harvest cycles specific to each area.
Palm oil: Higher prices in the north
Traditional palm oil, known as zomi, highlights these geographic imbalances. It sells for 1,621 CFA francs per liter in Lomé but rises to 2,382 francs in the Savanes and 2,364 francs in Kara. The reason is straightforward: production is concentrated in the south, and transport costs increase with distance.
Meat and fish: Lomé remains the most expensive
Beef is most expensive in Lomé at 3,003 CFA francs per kilogram, compared with 2,154 francs in the Savanes. Smoked fish presents a more mixed picture. Smoked horse mackerel, known locally as akpala, costs 3,596 CFA francs per kilogram in Lomé, but 4,269 francs in the Maritime region and 3,924 francs in the Savanes, areas reached through longer distribution chains.
Administered prices: A national constant
One constant applies nationwide: fuel and butane gas prices are identical across regions. Gasoline sells at 680 CFA francs per liter, diesel at 695 francs, the small gas canister at 4,740 francs and the large one at 9,875 francs, whether in Lomé, Kara or the Savanes. These prices are set by the state, which absorbs transport cost differences to avoid penalising landlocked regions.
These regional price gaps are significant. The same salary does not carry the same purchasing power depending on where people live. In Lomé, incomes are generally higher, but so are prices. In rural northern areas, households pay less for certain local products but face higher costs and greater difficulty accessing goods sourced elsewhere.
INSEED collects this data monthly, tracking 810 products across nearly 4,800 points of sale nationwide.
Fiacre E. Kakpo
Togo holds talks with private sector on financing, debt and energy issues
Togo’s Minister Delegate for Investment Promotion and Economic Sovereignty, Arthur Lilas Trimua, began talks with the country’s main private sector organizations on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
He met with delegations from the National Council of Employers of Togo (CNP-Togo), the Association of Large Enterprises (AGET), and the Association of Togolese Industries.
These were his first official meetings with the business community since taking office, part of broader efforts to strengthen the private sector’s role in economic growth.
Discussions focused on key constraints on economic activity. Business representatives pointed to limited access to financing, domestic debt, and high energy costs as weighing on productivity.
Large companies contribute nearly 20% of tax revenue and employ more than 13,000 people directly. They said the business environment needs improvement, calling for more appropriate tax policies, better infrastructure, and streamlined administrative procedures.
Industry representatives also stressed the need to strengthen domestic production capacity and develop local value chains.
Trimua reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining regular dialogue with economic stakeholders, with the aim of boosting Togo’s appeal to investors and supporting growth.
R.E.D
Togo introduces new rules requiring part of cashew supply to go to local processors
Togo's executive has adopted new measures to strengthen oversight of the cashew trade. The decision, issued in late December 2025 through a joint ministerial order signed by Economy Minister Badanam Patoki and Agriculture Minister Antoine Gbegbeni, was made public this week.
The new rules amend regulations dating back to 2008. They require all licensed buyers and producer cooperative societies to deliver at least one-third of the volume of cashew nuts they collect or purchase to local processing units before selling to exporters. Compliance must be documented through a receipt or dispatch note issued by the processing units.
The authorities say the measures aim to promote greater local processing. Operators who fail to meet the requirement face exclusion from sales to exporters for the duration of the current campaign.
The regulation also reaffirms that the purchase and export of cashew nuts remain subject to accreditation issued by the Cashew Sector Coordination Committee. Any cargo destined for export without the required documentation may be seized, with all related costs borne by the exporter.
The new requirement builds on an export tax introduced on cashew nuts and other products from Jan. 1, 2026, also intended to encourage local processing.
Festival La Marmite to showcase African cuisine in fifth Lomé edition
Togo's Festival La Marmite (FESMA) will hold its fifth edition in Lomé from Aug. 12 to 16, 2026. This year's event, dedicated to promoting African and Togolese culinary arts, will be held under the theme "Promoting Integration and Social Cohesion Through Food."
Now established as a leading African culinary gathering, the festival will bring together chefs, producers, processors, entrepreneurs and food lovers over five days. The goal is to celebrate and promote the entire agri-food value chain, from agricultural production to processing and local consumption.
For this fifth edition, organizers have announced several new features, including the "Village des Saveurs." The space will allow visitors to discover culinary specialties from Togo's different regions as well as those of invited countries.
The event will also feature "Rencontres de Prestige," sessions in which prominent chefs will share their expertise and the culinary traditions of their countries.
For FESMA Commissioner General Jean-Paul Agboh Ahouélété, the festival goes beyond a simple food fair. "FESMA is not just a fair, it is a celebration of African identity," he said. Every dish tells a story and every flavor reflects an identity, he added. "FESMA will be the place where these stories come together to strengthen integration, cooperation and shared prosperity within the UEMOA region."
For the 2026 edition, organizers are targeting 50,000 visitors from Togo and the wider sub-region. A total of 200 exhibitors are expected, including chefs, restaurateurs, producers, processors, distributors and industry players, alongside about 50 institutions and organizations, including ministries, donors, international organizations and investors.
Esaïe Edoh