South Korean Prime Minister, Han Duck-Soo, was recently in Togo on a prospection mission. The two-day meeting was aimed at bolstering cooperation between Lomé and Seoul.

Duck-Soo arrived in the Togolese capital on Monday, October 30, and on the same day met with Victoire Tomegah-Dogbe, Prime Minister of Togo. The two delegations, on that occasion, reviewed their nearly 60-year relationship and looked at ways to deepen it, especially in the agriculture, security, energy, digital, education, and professional training sectors. 

"The current government wants to share the experience it has acquired, over the last 70 years, regarding the help, support, and backing of the international community that has enabled Korea to go from being one of the poorest countries in the world to becoming the Korea it is today," Han Duck-Soo said.

During his stay, the Asian official visited the Port of Lomé, which according to him “can serve as a gateway to West Africa".

He then went to the Institut de Formation en Alternance pour le Développement dedicated to building trades (IFAD-Bâtiment) in Adidogomé, as well as the IFAD Energies Renouvelable (IFAD-ENR) site, which is being completed. "At the Vocational Training Institute, I was able to see the efforts being made to develop local industries and welcome foreign industries. This training in civil engineering and renewable energies is really targeted at the field, and I think it's training that's heading in the right direction," Duck-Soo said. 

"There are many areas where we can cooperate. You have strong government goodwill, you have the necessary infrastructure, and the policies are very well constructed. These are all areas of cooperation that we can work on together, and I'm very optimistic about the future partnership between our two countries," he declared at the end of his tour.

Han Duck-Soo, as instructed by his President, invited PM Tomegah-Dogbe to the Africa-Korea Conference scheduled for 2024. He also asked for Togo's support for his country's candidacy to the World Heritage Committee for the 2023-2027 term and the 2030 Universal Exhibition.

On the sideline of the 60th anniversary of the Togo-South Korea cooperation, the Asian nation has supported several projects launched by the African government. For example, Seoul recently backed the Agropolis of Kara and financed the "equitable sustainable access to essential services for children in the North" project.

Esaïe Edoh

The ministers of infrastructure of Togo and Ghana held a meeting in Noepe last Tuesday, October 31. The meeting focused on the two countries’ collaboration to fully operationalize the Noepe-Akanu juxtaposed border checkpoint. 

Once it is fully operational, the checkpoint, which has been active since 2018, will handle customs, immigration, and security operations, thus facilitating the free movement of goods and people across the border. 

"There have been bilateral agreements between the two countries. We are therefore called upon to know who is taking charge of what, as well as the position of ECOWAS", said Sediko Douka, Commissioner in charge of Infrastructure, Energy and Digitization at the ECOWAS Commission.

During the meeting, the two sides also discussed the provision of logistics, especially electricity, street lighting, water supply, internet, and communication tools, for better and more effective operation of the PJC.

"We have therefore made a statement of implementation of commitments and all this, on a transitional basis, pending the recruitment of a manager who will manage the whole site. On the ECOWAS side, we are also going to make commitments to support the two countries, in bearing the costs," added Sediko Douka.

Built on a 17-ha piece of land, the Noepe-Akanu checkpoint was financed by the European Union and initiated by the ECOWAS. It is subdivided into several zones for commercial vehicle and passenger operations, as well as cargo handling, freight forwarding, and livestock inspection.

Esaïe Edoh

“Despite the tense geopolitical and ecologic situation, I am optimistic for Africa”. Faure Gnassingbe, Togo’s President, made this statement at the ongoing International Economic Forum on Africa, in Paris.

"Despite the tense geopolitical and ecological situation, I'm optimistic for Africa, because after many difficult years, the African continent is returning to growth and presenting a new face for investors," said Gnassingbe.

The leader’s optimism is rooted in Africa’s present economic situation, which is relatively favorable. Indeed, since last July, inflation across the continent has dropped from 10% to 7%, and the IMF forecasts growth (economic) to resume in 2024.

To get their economies to grow, African countries should, according to the Togolese leader, seek more investment opportunities. To do this, Faure Gnassingbe suggested adopting appropriate policies to foster private investment and improve the business environment.

"We need to rethink the role of the State. It must become the catalyst for private investment. Business climate in this context is an important issue, and Togo is working on this issue every day," he stressed.

Faure Gnassingbé also urged investors including international institutions and private operators to invest in promising sectors.  "Investment opportunities in Africa are considerable, particularly in the field of energy transition. Faced with immense financing needs, the public finances of African states cannot suffice. A more significant proportion of private financing must therefore be redirected towards our continent. And to achieve this, our task is to provide good projects," declared the Togolese Head of State.

Esaïe Edoh

The Mable Agbodan Foundation presents Togolese artist, Gustave Akpéhou Djonda, at the upcoming "Portraits, regards d'aujourd'hui" exhibition in Paris. Scheduled for November 23 to 26, the exhibition will showcase a collection of 100 sculptures in terracotta and rust, all depicting heads and faces.

Djonda, a self-taught artist from Togo, was born in 1972 in Lomé. His collection, entitled "100 Têtes sans Visages", explores the history of humanity, featuring faces, some of which are well-known, some not, but they all tell individual or collective stories–some of which carry dark memories such as memories of slavery and genocide.

The Togolese artist is a member of the "école de Lomé", a movement of committed self-taught artists. He ventured onto the artistic path in 1998, and since then has produced work that has been exposed throughout Africa and beyond.

According to the Mablé Agbodan Foundation, supporting the exhibition and the artist aligns with its efforts to promote arts, design, and crafts. It is part of an approach that enhances local and indigenous resources, while promoting sustainable human development, particularly among young people and women, as well as grassroots communities.

The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to improve socio-economic living conditions in Togo and beyond.

Togo could soon adopt a master plan for the development of its coast (SDAL). The project was discussed last week, on Oct. 26, at the Council of Ministers.

The SDAL, according to a statement relayed by the minister of maritime economy and coastal protection, Edem Kokou Tengue, will be based on scientific data and will emphasize an integrated ecosystem management approach.

The plan should foster space rationalization and proper execution of development projects, " to meet the challenges of rising waters linked to climate change".

The move will also help to develop the economic and tourism potential of Togo's coastal strip and improve its management.

The SDAL is backed by institutions such as the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Bank.

Esaïe Edoh

The Banque Centrale des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (BCEAO) plans to set up an instant payment system within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).

In the long run, this interoperable platform should be active 24/7, processing cross-account payments. 

The BCEAO will present the project on November 16, 2023, during a webinar targeting app developers "who wish to integrate a payment solution into their products." The webinar’s participants will learn in depth how the platform will work.

The regional bank noted that the upcoming payment system punctuates a growing interest in combining new technologies to develop financial solutions in the sub-regional space. In particular, the Central Bank has expressed its desire to better monitor fintechs in the Community.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Faure Gnassingbé, the President of Togo, is in Paris where he attends the 22nd International Economic Forum on Africa. Organized by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the African Union Commission, the forum started on Tuesday, October 31. 

At the event, Gnassingbe and his other African peers are looking at issues relating to investment in Africa for inclusive growth and sustainable development. They also discuss public policies and best practices, as well as opportunities for deepening the OECD-Africa partnership.

Discussions will also focus on exploring investment opportunities on the continent, solutions to stimulate sustainable investment, and reforms to the global financial architecture likely to improve access to affordable financing.

Esaïe Edoh

Togo exported 3,500 t and 9,000 t of coffee and cocoa, respectively, in the 2022-2023 sales campaign. The figures were disclosed last Friday, Oct. 27, by the Coffee-Cocoa Coordination Committee (CCFCC). On the same day, the Committee launched the 2023-2024 sales campaign in Kpalimé.

Compared to the 2021-2022 campaign, exports in the recent season are up by 9% and 63%, respectively. Indeed, the country had sold 3,200 t and 5,500 t of coffee and cocoa in 2021-2022. The year before that, in 2020-2021, the exports were even lower, standing at 2,000 t and 5,400 t, respectively.

For this new season, the CCFCC urged both sectors’ actors to take advantage of market diversification and better prices.

"While our ambition is to manage to consume most of it (production, ed. note) locally, it goes without saying that much of it is currently destined for export. Our aim must, therefore, be to increase our production, which is still low. To achieve this, we need to increase cultivation areas, and raise the productivity of plantations,” advised the Minister for Trade, Kayi Mivedor.

Esaïe Edoh

Lomé hosted today, October 31, a virtual meeting on “Digital strategies to boost local consumption in Togo”. The five-hour meeting was organized by the Ministry of Trade and its partners, in the framework of the “Mois du Consommer Local”. Experts and key actors in the sector took part in the event. 

Panelists included Mrs. Ameyo Adovon, Director of Local Consumption, Dr. Yao Sogadji, President of the Ligue des Consommateurs du Togo (LCT), Edem Adjamagbo, CEO and founder of Semoa, Digital Finance expert, Sitou Yibokou, Managing Partner of Made in Togo and promoter of the "Semaine du eCommerce" in Togo, and Rachid Mensah, a Consultant specialized in digital processes.

The goal of the meeting was to look at the digital strategies that can help bolster local consumption in Togo.

This year, Togo held the fourth edition of the Mois du Consommer Local (Consuming Local Month). This one-month fair promotes local products and services across the country.