The Togo-Vietnam partnership turned 50 on February 8, 2025. The two countries recently reflected on their friendship and explored new avenues to consolidate their ties. 

The source, the Togolese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, says the relationship is "fruitful", adding that both sides share a mutual understanding of key global issues and support each other in various multilateral organizations.

Over the past 50 years, the two countries have successfully developed various projects in agriculture, economy, trade, investment, culture, education, science and technology research, and projects to bolster relationships between their respective people.

In the coming years, Togo and Vietnam plan to strengthen their partnership through solidarity, political dialogue, and mediation, while promoting mutual respect and understanding. Last month, the two partners inked a new memorandum of understanding to bolster their cooperation in key sectors like agriculture, trade, investment, and telecommunications. Togolese Foreign Affairs Minister, Robert Dussey, signed the MoU while visiting the Asian nation.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

The Fourth International Crafts Market of Togo (MIATO) will run from April 23 to May 4, in Lomé. “Protecting handicrafts: issues and challenges” is the theme.

The fair will focus on raising craftsmen’s awareness of protecting their work and finding ways to achieve that goal. Burkina Faso is the guest of honor for the event.

Besides discussions, the event will feature exhibitions and cultural performances on the esplanade of the Palais des Congrès in Lomé.

The Togolese government views the MIATO as a platform that enables craftspeople to show their work, build partnerships, and boost the local economy. In 2023, the event drew over 800 exhibitors from Togo and other countries, including Belgium, Tunisia, Cameroon, Gabon, Chad, Burkina Faso, Benin, and Mali, which was the guest of honor. 

This article was initially published in French by Esaie Edoh

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

Togo’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI-T) is introducing the latest tax reforms to SMEs active in the country. The Chamber launched a series of meetings in this framework on February 10. They are hosted across the country, including the capital. 

At the end of the program, participating businesses should better understand tax issues, thus contributing to a more competitive business environment.

On Monday, Chamber of Commerce President José Kwassi Simenouh said the move will help avoid management errors. He noted that tax knowledge is crucial for the long-term success of growing SMEs. "It's essential that business leaders understand what taxes are. (...) What we expect is a preventive attitude to avoid making mistakes that could lead to tax reassessments,” said Simenouh.

Pidassa Awali, Managing Director of FISCCA-RH, a training firm, emphasized that the new law aims to equip the private sector by facilitating access to essential information. “The Finance Act is not simply a regulatory framework, it is designed to support and strengthen the capacities of the private sector”, he explained.

The initiative is particularly geared toward young companies, providing them with tools to navigate a complex tax framework. The workshops close on February 13.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togo is participating in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit in Paris, France. Opened on February 10, 2025, the summit has gathered heads of state, researchers, companies, and civil society representatives.

Togo is represented by Cina Lawson, Minister for Digital Transformation. On February 11, Lawson spoke at a conference themed: "AI at the service of development: solutions for a sustainable and inclusive future." This conference was co-organized by Togo and the French Development Agency (AFD). It focused on how AI can effectively serve developing countries, and how these countries can address their social, economic, and environmental issues.

Last November, Cina Lawson initiated a series of meetings under the theme “Around AI”. These roundtables, aimed at drawing a national AI strategy, gathered many experts and entrepreneurs. At the time, the French Embassy in Togo had praised the initiative and Togo’s commitment to tech innovation.

The ongoing summit in Paris primarily aims to balance innovation and regulation relative to AI. The talks will focus on equitable access to technologies, AI’s environmental impact, and setting a suitable global governance.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

Togo will send six film productions to the Festival Panafricain du Cinéma et de la Télévision de Ouagadougou (FESPACO), set to run from February 22 to March 1, 2025. The figure, a record, reflects a dynamic and expanding local film industry.

The selected films span a variety of categories, showcasing the breadth of Togolese talent. These include entries in critical review, series, animation, perspective, and film school productions.

Adding to the excitement, young Togolese director Dogossa Birregah has been chosen to participate in the Yennenga Academy, a program designed to nurture emerging film talent from across the continent.

The Ministry of Culture sees this success as a clear indicator of the industry's upward trajectory and the increasing recognition of Togolese cinema on the international stage.

This surge in FESPACO selections comes as Togo's government strives to boost the cultural and creative sectors, as it wants to have them drive economic growth, employment, and Togo’s reputation.

Last December, Lomé launched a five-year strategy to boost the local film industry. This strategy focuses on training and promoting Togolese productions worldwide.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

Togolese entrepreneurs can apply to the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) startup funding program and get seed funding of $5,000. 

Last Friday, a TEF awareness session was held to inform entrepreneurs who may be interested. The Ministry of Grassroots Development and Youth Employment, and the National Agency for Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) backed the workshop. Participants learned about TEF's support mechanisms.

Every year, the TEF, founded in 2015 by Nigerian banking mogul Tony Elumelu, runs an incubation program that supports young African entrepreneurs, giving them funding, skills, and networking opportunities.

Young entrepreneurs with businesses that are less than five years old were informed about the program's stages: application, training, business plan review, and access to start-up capital. Since its launch, the TEF backed over 20,000 entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries. It has invested over $100 million in their projects. 

Interested entrepreneurs have until March 1 to apply to the TEF funding program.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi 

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

Lomé seeks to become a major arbitration center in sea and financial disputes, joining big cities like London, Hong Kong, and Paris. Last week, from February 3 to 5, the Togolese capital hosted The Power of Lomé Arbitration Week (L.A.W). According to Martial Akakpo, who heads the Centre International d'Arbitrage et de Médiation (CIAM), the L.A.W supported the ambition. 

Severa assets position Lomé to aim for the position of top arbitration center–its geographical position being the first. Lomé is the only city in the region to have a deep-water port. Also, the Port of Lomé receives the latest ships, due to its strategic position for developing and operating maritime and financial infrastructure.

It is worth noting that the development of maritime activities in the Gulf of Guinea–especially ship operation and management, navigation, transport of goods, repairs, commission, logistics, sales, charter parties, insurance, etc–has given rise to conflicts, disputes, and differences. And these are best settled by mediation and arbitration.

At the recent ¨Power of the L.A.W, it was indicated that “Lomé's dominant position as the headquarters of sub-regional financial institutions such as BOAD, BIDC, ETI, AGF, CICA-RE and its proximity to the regional stock exchange in Abidjan reinforces the need to reflect on the efficiency and appropriateness of arbitration procedures for disputes in complex areas such as banking and financial law.” During the forum’s opening ceremony, Balkissou Alfa Hassan Sido Kado, who handles dispute resolution across the African Free Trade Continental Area (AfCFTA), emphasized the importance of arbitration and mediation to resolve business disagreements across Africa.

According to Me Martial Akakpo, head of the Centre International d'Arbitrage et de Médiation (CIAM), capturing a portion of the resolution of maritime disputes presents a significant challenge for Lomé. Success hinges on support from maritime and financial stakeholders, as well as the State, which is called upon to establish an appropriate legislative framework and specialized judicial institutions, including a specialized chamber for appeals against arbitral awards

“The Power of L.A.W.” has gathered lawyers, business leaders, investment groups, banks, development partners, as well as regional and international experts.

This article was initially published in French by Séna Akoda

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

The Gnassingbé Eyadema International Airport (AIGE) of Lomé, Togo, is slated for further expansion works. This project was a key topic during discussions at the National Assembly concerning the 2025 Finance Law in late December 2024.

The expansion aims to increase the airport's capacity and support Togo's ambition to become a regional logistics hub. The expansion should help the facility receive more passengers–2 million per year, against 1.4 million now.

The initiative includes enlarging waiting areas by 500 seats to improve passenger flow for departures, connections, and arrivals. The southward terminal will also be extended to enhance safety and security, in line with international standards.

This expansion is part of a broader effort to modernize the airport, including building and operating a hotel for transit passengers. This should attract more international airlines to the Togolese capital, where about 10 currently operate. New carriers could also flock to Lomé, strengthening Togo's position in West African airspace.

The AIGE was previously rehabilitated in 2016.

Esaïe Edoh

The Djanta Tech Hub in Lomé, Togo, will offer Human Centered Design (HCD) training on February 21 and 22, 2025.

The two sessions, organized with the Co-Creation Hub (CcHub), target digital and innovation professionals—from entrepreneurs to students—to enhance their skills in design thinking and product creation.

Participants in these interactive workshops will learn to design innovative and economically viable products that meet market demands. They will also learn how to better understand and solve user challenges. Each session is limited to 50 participants. The workshop will be broadcast online via Zoom.

The Djanta Tech Hub supports the transformation of Togo's entrepreneurial ecosystem, focusing on startups in tech, agritech, and edtech.