The Ministry of Grassroots Development of Togo recently gave away some money and equipment to 160 vulnerable young artisans of Mango, northern Togo. The related ceremony was held on April 13, and it was presided over by the minister herself, Myriam Dossou. 

The initiative is part of the Emergency Program for the Savannes Region (PURS), which supports young people’s businesses in the region.

Besides work kits, beneficiaries will also get a CFA50,000 grant to start their activities. The money will be paid over three months, through the NOVISSI support platform.

Supporting the youth is a means for the government to tackle extremism in the region, as it has been facing terrorist attacks for some months now.

"I personally wanted to be present at this ceremony held in Mango in the presence of prefects and mayors, to urge the youth of the Savannah to cultivate peace, remain vigilant, work and live together, while reminding them of their role and responsibility in the prevention and fight against violent extremism,” Myriam Dossou said.

Launched at the beginning of 2022, the Savannah Region Emergency Program aims to improve the living conditions of people in this part of the country, but also to boost their resilience. About CFA50 billion has been poured so far into the project, according to the government, knowingly on health, water, electricity, and road projects.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Sani Yaya, the Togolese minister of finance, met with some members of the World Bank Group involved in cooperation with Togo. Yaya met, notably, with Sergio Pimenta, vice president of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the WB’s private sector arm.

The two men talked mostly about bolstering the Bank’s investments in Togo, with a focus on the IFC’s strategy in the West African country.

The talks covered key sectors like agriculture, energy, industrialization, financial services, digital economy, and implementing public-private partnerships in Togo.

The IFC’s actions in Togo are aimed at boosting economic growth and employment, particularly by supporting SMEs. Since 2014, when the institution opened offices in the country, its portfolio grew from $10 million to $300 million. This year, the Corporation extended a $77 million facility to the Bank of Africa Group, to support SMEs in ten African countries including Togo. It also entered a partnership with the Association of Large Enterprises of Togo (AGET) to support SMEs/SMIs.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

The Togolese government recently released an update on its actions to develop agriculture in the Kara region (northern Togo). The data covers planned agricultural development zone (ZAAP), financing for farmers, infrastructural support, and output, among others.

The Kara region, authorities reported, houses 71 ZAAPs. And out of the region’s 76 cantons, 61 house at least one ZAAP. 

The creation of agropoles and agro-parks, the development of agricultural land, and the promotion of agro-industry are some of the key actions taken by the Togolese authorities to boost agriculture in the Kara region.

According to the latest government data, 61 out of 76 cantons in the region have at least one planned agricultural development zone (ZAAP). This part of Togo has a total of 71 ZAAPs.

Financial support

Regarding financing, for the ongoing campaign, the government provided several loans to Kara’s farmers. For example, the farmers obtained a loan of CFA60 million through the ANSAT, and CFA1.8 billion through the National Fund for Inclusive Finance (Fonds National de la Finance Inclusive of FNFI in French). 

Lomé also disbursed, as the campaign began, CFA120 million in credit to the farmers via the MIFA (which is a risk-sharing-based financing mechanism), and CFA504 million as part of the Agropole project.

Infrastructure

Kara has 106 agricultural storage warehouses and 7 processing units. Also, an agro-park is being built in the region. 

As a result of the government’s opening-up strategy, 460 km of rural tracks have been built in Kara.

Output

Last year, Kara recorded an agricultural output of 680,602 t, compared to 658,011 t in 2021, thus up by 3.4%. Farmers in the region mostly grow food and cash crops. 

In detail, the region produced 160,259 t of grains in 2022, 432,677 t of root crops and tubers, and 86,666 t of legumes and oilseeds.

Kara is the third-largest region in Togo. It is currently hosting the last stage of the Forum of Togolese agricultural producers (FOPAT). The event started on April 17 and closes today, April 20.

Esaïe Edoh 

Alexandre de Souza is the new head of the Togolese Center for Fairs and Exhibitions (CETEF). He officially took office yesterday, April 18, 2023.

De Souza was picked following a tender issued in May 2022 by the Ministry of Trade and local consumption. He took the place of Yakpey Comlan Nomadoli, who took over as interim director after Kueky-Banka Johnson. 

As managing director, Alexandre de Souza will coordinate and steer all CETEF activities. 

De Souza has a lot of experience organizing fairs and big events. He was behind Togo’s first real estate and housing exhibition (Fest'immo). He is also the president of the Togolese Federation of real estate.

Esaïe Edoh

Togo recorded an inflation rate of 7.1% in March 2023, up by 0.7% compared to the previous month (during which it fell). According to the National Institute of Statistics, and Economic and Demographic Studies (INSEED), which released the figure, the increase was driven, mainly, by food prices (which rose by 1.3%), and services such as restaurants and hotels (+0.8%). The costs of housing, water, gas, electricity, and other fuels also rose (+0.7% overall); just like clothing and footwear (+0.3%).

Under the food basket, citrus, other fresh fruits, tubers, and plantains recorded the highest price increase (+16.9%, 12.2%, and +8.8%, respectively). Right behind were fish and other dried or smoked products (+5.8%), and raw cereals (+1.5%). 

Last month, the prices of some products fell. These include alcoholic drinks, tobacco, and narcotics, as well as miscellaneous goods and services.

Excluding food costs and fresh produce, core inflation rose by 0.3%. However, the monthly change in the index excluding energy and fresh products recorded a slight decrease of 0.1%.

It is worth noting that prices of local products rose by 0.7%, slightly more than imported products, whose prices were up by "only" 0.4%.

Concerning general price levels, between March 2022 and March 2023, they grew by 6.3%, according to the INSEED. While attributing the increase to a rise in the costs of consumer products (excluding communication), the source said it reflects global economic pressures–supply issues and generalized inflation.

Government anticipates reduction

Lomé expects its inflation to fall to 6.8% this year, from 7.6% in 2022. The government’s expectation is based on the country’s anticipated economic growth rate, to 6.6%, after standing at 5.8% and 6% in 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

In Togo, the Autonomous Port of Lomé (PAL) will spend CFA60 million on its environmental protection strategy this year. The funds will finance several operations falling under the port’s 2023 environmental action plan which was unveiled last week. 

Through the plan, the port’s management aims to: boost sanitation at the facility and on ships, sustainably manage pollution and nuisances, and ensure the safety and good health of port workers who work in logistics. 

The port’s strategy should equally reduce the environmental impact related to the operation of port services and participate in the infrastructure’s decarbonization process.

"Regarding coastal erosion, which is a major issue, it is also part of the environmental problem, and tackling this problem will help us better manage our port," commented Rear Admiral Fogan Kodjo Adégnon, managing director of PAL. However, for the official, environmental protection covers the sea, land, and air. 

The PAL’s 2023 environmental plan meets the requirements of ISO 14001, version 2015 for the Environment, which recommends the implementation of an environmental management system.

Esaïe Edoh

Bolstered by its recent success in the WAEMU market, Togo will attempt to repeat the experience. Lomé will seek again CFA30 billion on the regional market, through a simultaneous issue of fungible treasury bonds (OATs in French) and fungible treasury bills (BATs). The operation closes on April 24th.

In detail, the Togolese treasury hopes to raise CFA10 billion via the OATs. The securities have a nominal value of CFA1 million, multiple interest rates, and mature over 182 days. As for the BATs, Lomé expects them to bring in CFA20 billion. They have a nominal value of CFA10,000, mature over 3 and 5 years, and have interest rates of 5.7% and 6%, respectively. 

The operation’s proceeds, according to Umoa-titres, the agency in charge of managing the regional market, will finance Togo’s State budget for 2023. The latter stands at CFA1,957 billion – expenditures and revenues. 

So far this year Togo has raised CFA113 billion on the WAEMU market. In its latest issue, it secured CFA32 billion from regional investors, CFA2 billion more than it was seeking. 

Esaïe Edoh

The Millenium Challenge Corporation and Togo recently reinforced their partnership by signing the $12 million Compact Development Fund agreement. The agreement was signed last Friday, April 14, by the Togolese minister of finance, Sani Yaya, and Cameron Alford, vice president, Compact operations, at MCC. Alice Patterson Albright and Mahmoud Bah, respectively managing director of the Millenium Challenge Account and deputy managing director of MCC, were there as well. 

The agreement for the MCC-Togo Compact program was signed on the sidelines of the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings which were held in Washington last week. 

The funds will help Togo prepare its project for the Compact, the biggest financing package the MCC grants countries. Togo, it is worth noting, became eligible for the program on December 14, 2022. 

The MCC Threshold program is already deployed in the country, in the land and ICT sectors. Togo secured $35 million in this framework.

For the Compact, the funds secured should finance energy and ICT projects. 

This was confirmed by Sani Yaya, who said during the recent signing that the deal "will take us to federate actions for the formulation of projects in the energy sector and Information Technology and Communication."

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togolese farmers and government officials will meet in Kara (northern Togo) on April 17-20, 2023. The town will host the final stage of Togo’s regional fora of agricultural producers (FOPATs).

The participants will review the sector’s performances and challenges its actors face. Also, the government will expose its vision for the structural transformation of Togolese agriculture to the farmers.

Just like he did in the previous venues that hosted the event, President Faure Gnassingbe will meet face-to-face with the region’s farmers and influential figures. 

A presidential initiative, the FOPAT aims to foster discussions and experience-sharing between Togolese farmers and decision-makers to ensure inclusive management in the agricultural sector.

Esaïe Edoh