Togo’s Maritime Regional Council adopted a new development roadmap late last week, outlining key priorities and actions to boost the region’s growth between 2025 and 2027. The initiatives identified in the plan will require an estimated 4 billion XOF in total funding.

The strategy emphasizes the Maritime region’s economic and human potential while identifying the main challenges that need to be addressed to strengthen its competitiveness. The roadmap focuses on three priority areas: enhancing human capital and social inclusion, promoting entrepreneurship and economic activity, and improving infrastructure and living conditions.

Once implemented, the plan is expected to improve residents’ living standards through targeted measures in sectors such as water and sanitation, agriculture, crafts, and trade.

According to Taïrou Bagbiegue, Governor of the Maritime Region, the roadmap is designed to serve as a reference tool for local development. “It will act as a catalyst for change and a guide for public action in the region,” he said.

Meanwhile, a broader Regional Development Plan (PDR) is nearing completion. It is expected to better coordinate the initiatives stemming from the roadmap and define new structural projects to support the sustainable development of the Maritime region.

Esaïe Edoh

Togo and Algeria are preparing to strengthen economic cooperation, particularly in agribusiness, energy, logistics, and services. The initiative is being led by the Togo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI-Togo) and the Algerian Employers’ Organization (OPA), which seek to build a structured partnership between the two countries’ private sectors.

Potential areas of collaboration were discussed at a meeting in Lomé last week between the two organizations. The Algerian delegation, headed by OPA President Sidi Saïd, met with CCI-Togo President José Kwassi Syemenouh to review investment conditions in Togo and the support mechanisms available to help foreign businesses establish and expand operations.

The two sides plan to leverage existing industrial zones, connect private sector actors, promote cross-investment, and create a more competitive business climate. These efforts are aimed at deepening trade and economic ties between Lomé and Algiers.

According to United Nations Comtrade data, trade between the two nations remains limited. In 2024, Togo’s exports to Algeria were valued at around $506,000, while imports from Algeria totaled nearly $2 million.

As part of ongoing efforts to boost bilateral relations, both governments began talks almost four years ago on lifting diplomatic and service visa requirements and establishing an Algerian-Togolese Business Council to encourage cross-border investment.

Esaïe Edoh

Togo’s cereal production for the 2024-2025 season totaled 1.53 million tons, according to recent data from the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO). The figure represents a slight decline from the 1.56 million tons recorded the previous year, ending five consecutive years of growth.

Between 2019 and 2024, national cereal output rose from 1.26 million tons to 1.56 million tons, an average annual growth rate of 4.3%. Maize remains Togo’s main cereal crop, followed by paddy rice, millet, and sorghum, all largely grown for domestic consumption.

This long-term growth reflects government initiatives to improve access to farm inputs and modernize production methods. For the 2025-2026 season, authorities plan to build on these gains by providing 85,000 tons of fertilizer, up from nearly 78,000 tons the year before. About 40% of the supply will go to the Savanes region, which has the country’s highest agricultural needs.

The support program also includes the distribution of improved crop seeds adapted to local climate conditions to help boost smallholder productivity. Small-scale farmers remain the backbone of national production and play a central role in food security.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togo alone accounted for 29.5% of total transport service revenue generated across the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) in 2024.

That represents nearly a third of the regional total, according to the latest foreign trade report from the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO). Côte d’Ivoire followed closely, capturing 26.7% of the sector’s revenue.

Transport services, which include road, maritime and air activities, make up a key part of the Union’s trade in services. However, the sector’s overall share of total service exports dropped to 19.4% in 2024, down from 21.6% in 2023. The decline was driven by weaker demand and lower revenue, which fell from 670.3 billion XOF to 627.1 billion XOF ($1.02 billion).

Togo’s market dominance is primarily attributed to the central role of the Autonomous Port of Lomé, a major maritime import hub for the sub-region. The port serves several landlocked countries, including Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali. Land and sea transport services remain the primary revenue drivers, fueled by port logistics and international transit.

Transport services rank second among the Union’s service exports, behind tourism, which accounts for 36.1% of the total.

According to BCEAO data, Togo’s transport service exports reached 185.1 billion XOF ($301.7 million) in 2024. This reflects steady growth between 2020 and 2024, rising nearly 77% over five years from 104.4 billion XOF. However, growth leveled off between 2023 and 2024, with only a slight increase of 0.7 billion XOF.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togo’s Education Development Agency (AED), the agency overseeing IFAD training centers, and the Synergy of Renewable Energy Actors (SAER) formalized their partnership on Friday, November 7, to strengthen cooperation in the renewable energy sector.

The three-year agreement outlines several key areas of collaboration. It includes plans for creating initial and continuing training programs in renewable energy tailored to market needs. In addition, SAER member companies will host trainees from the IFAD Renewable Energy Center for hands-on internships, helping them transition into the workforce.

The partnership also includes work-study programs and aims to build the skills of trainers and company mentors. SAER will take part in the governance of the IFAD Renewable Energy Center. Finally, the agreement provides technical assistance and equipment support to improve training quality and support the development of Togo’s renewable energy sector.

“This agreement reflects our goal to bridge training and employment,” said Dammipi Noupokou, Director-General of AED. “Our ambition is to build a more dynamic environment to prepare young people for future jobs and support the country’s energy transition.”

Serge Adote, Chairman of SAER’s Board of Directors, emphasized the importance of the partnership, noting it will allow SAER to become more deeply involved in the activities of the IFAD Renewable Energy Center, particularly in “innovative and ambitious programs starting in 2026.”

AED and SAER have worked together for several years, including support for the IFAD Renewable Energy Center in developing professional and training standards.

Togo’s National Identification Agency (ANID) is moving ahead with its biometric registration project in Zone 1 of the Maritime region.

The latest step in Aného involved setting up Local Complaint Management Committees (CCGPs) for the Lacs prefecture.

These committees are responsible for ensuring efficient and transparent processing of complaints related to the biometric enrollment process. Specifically, they will review citizens’ concerns and ensure adherence to principles of fairness and confidentiality.

Members of the newly formed committees were officially appointed and trained for their roles on Tuesday, November 4, and Wednesday, November 5, 2025.

The initiative is being carried out under the World Bank–backed West Africa Unique Identification for Regional Integration and Inclusion (WURI-Togo) project. This program aims to provide every resident with a state-recognized biometric identity to facilitate access to social and financial services.

ANID Director-General, Captain Silété Roselin Devo, urged local residents to take part actively in the ongoing enrollment process.

R.E.D

China handed over solar kits to Togo on Thursday, November 6, 2025, in Lomé, to support the country’s goal of achieving universal electricity access by 2030.

The donation is part of China’s “Africa Solar Belt” project, an initiative designed to support the continent’s energy transition and fight climate change.

The donation, consisting of 3,900 photovoltaic kits, is intended to meet the energy needs of rural households. These off-grid systems will boost rural electrification, help diversify Togo’s energy mix, and support low-carbon development. Officials said the initiative aligns with expanding Sino-African cooperation in renewable energy, particularly solar power.

According to Robert Koffi Eklo, the Minister Delegate for Energy, the kits are expected to supply electricity to more than 20,000 Togolese living in areas not connected to the national grid. He said their use would contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development.

Chinese Ambassador to Togo, Min Wang, praised the Togolese government’s efforts to combat climate change, adding that the donation reflects China’s continued support for Togo’s energy transition.

The Ministry of Energy will organize training sessions for Togolese technicians before deploying the kits, to ensure proper installation and maintenance. Various initiatives carried out with partner support have already helped Togo reach an electricity access rate of 70% by the end of 2024.

Esaïe Edoh