Lomé has been hosting a meeting of the subregion's customs directors general since Monday, June 24, 2024, to discuss the deployment of the Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT) on the Abidjan-Lagos corridor. The work, which is part of the activities of the ECOWAS commission, aims to "discuss the deployment of SIGMAT in member countries," explained Piguendéléwè Akaya, Director of Customs Operations at Lomé-Port, representing the head of the OTR, at the opening of the executives' meeting on June 25.

SIGMAT is a tool that enables the exchange of data and the electronic tracking of goods in transit between the customs administrations of the member states of the West African sub-region, with the effect of reducing the time it takes to pass through the various customs posts on the corridor where it is in force. "The exchange of information through SIGMAT will ultimately promote the securing of goods and merchandise, the fight against fraud, the control of tax and customs revenues, as well as the reliability of statistical data in member states," adds the official.

Mohamed Ibn Chambas, representative of the ECOWAS Commission and its Operational Commission on the Trade Liberalization Scheme, states that "the present meeting should enable us to identify the last administrative and technical obstacles to the deployment of the segments and to provide ideal solutions as soon as possible."

The ECOWAS Commission decided to adopt the transit goods management system since its adoption in Abidjan in 2019, as a standard for implementing these systems. Since then, it has been progressively operationalized in countries such as Togo, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, and Niger.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Bank of Africa Togo, Sunu Bank, and the Ministry of Agriculture sealed on June 19, 2024, a deal to help Togolese farmers secure affordable loans and buy modern equipment. Funds provided under the deal will finance input purchase, mechanization, and irrigation systems. 

BOA Togo will open a leasing line for 50 tractors and accessories over five years. Sunu Bank, for its part, will provide the commercial guarantee for the equipment. Agripreneurs will also be trained to use and maintain new technologies. 

Commenting on the new deal, Antoine Lekpa Gbegbeni, Minister of Agriculture, said his department committed to supporting farmers better–technically and financially–helping them build strong loan application files and providing adequate financial education.

The government welcomes the new partnership, claiming it is part of a wider strategy to boost agricultural productivity through mechanization. Togo plans to build six regional agricultural mechanization centers to support this ambitious initiative.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togo’s technical and financial partners (TFP) injected nearly $3 billion into the country’s development projects between 2018 and 2022.  The figure was disclosed on June 19, during a meeting between the Minister Secretary General of the Presidency, Sandra Ablamba Johnson, and some TFPs.

Socio-economic projects received particular attention, per the government's Togo 2025 Roadmap.

Parties present at the meeting outlined the main roadblocks to the financed projects’ execution. The discussions were aimed at speeding up their execution and optimizing their impact.

"Faced with current funding conditions, Togo has decided to reinvigorate the Intervention Coordination Platform and create all the conditions necessary for accelerated project implementation, in partnership with the various institutions", Sandra Ablamba Johnson said. 

The Togolese official added that the roundtable will help deepen discussions and draw ways to implement development projects in Togo quickly.

Esaïe Edoh

The Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) will start testing on June 22 a new interoperable instant payment system covering all West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) countries. The Bank just announced the launch, stressing its importance for expanding financial services in the Union. 

Instant"transactions"

The new payment system will be online 24/7. It will allow users to carry out instant transactions, regardless of the type of account held, whether with a bank, e-money issuer, microfinance institution, or payment institution. The BCEAO further noted that transfers and payments will also be possible between different financial institutions, guaranteeing immediate availability of funds for beneficiaries.

The system is expected to simplify and accelerate transfers between all banks active in the WAEMU, and between money wallets, such as mobile money.

"Users will be able to make payments at any merchant with an interoperable QR Code or capable of sending a payment request. The provision of financial services to businesses will be standardized", the BCEAO explained. The new system, the lender added, could spur new financial services.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Singaporean Pacific International Lines (PIL) began transshipment operations at Lomé’s port a few days ago. Edem Tengue, Togo’s Minister for Maritime Economy, officially announced this on June 19. 

PIL started operations right after the Kota Tema, one of its latest vessels, docked at the port of Lomé. The launch marks the company's definitive presence in Togo, two years after it entered a partnership with the Plateforme industrielle d'Adetikopé (PIA) for transit logistics operations.

According to Minister Tengue, PIL's presence "reinforces Lomé's strategic role as a hub in West Africa". Indeed, the firm’s arrival should contribute to the development of transshipment and handling at the port of Lomé.

Founded in 1967, PIL is one of the world's leading container shipping companies, with an extensive service network covering over 500 sites in 90 countries.

Esaïe Edoh

Togo was Benin's second-largest net foreign direct investment (FDI) provider in 2022.  This is according to data from the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO). 

China was first and Lebanon was third. Burkina Faso, India, Morocco, Brazil, Congo, and Switzerland followed. 

Net FDI flows represent the difference between inward and outward FDI. Over the period concerned, Benin recorded a net gain of CFA35 billion in this regard. 

The BCEAO’s data shows that Togo mostly invested in Benin’s insurance and intermediation services sector; a total of CFA41 billion exactly. In reverse, Benin invested CFA5.9 billion in Togo in 2022–CFA4.9 billion in trade, CFA564.3 million in manufacturing, CFA406 million in communication, and CFA30 million in transport and warehousing.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togo’s Human Development Index stood at 0.547 in 2023, up from 0.539 in 2022. The country, however, dropped one sport, to 163rd.

The figures were publicized on June 18 in Lomé at the official launch of the latest UNDP Human Development Report. UNDP representatives, Togolese officials, and local and traditional authorities attended the ceremony. Sandra Ablambla Johnson, Minister-Secretary General to the Presidency, chaired the event. 

C'est dans une salle archi-comble que le #HDR2024 du @pnudfr a été officiellement lancé par Mme @SandraA_JOHNSON au nom du @PresidenceTg, en présence des membres du @GouvTg, partenaires techniques & financiers, étudiants & groupes de ♀️ bénéficiaires des divers programmes au ??. pic.twitter.com/IdtI8ICgLF— Pnud Togo (@PnudTogo) June 18, 2024

First in the WAEMU

Togo’s HDI soared by 13% over the decade ended in 2023, the UNDP report indicates. Togo ranks first in the WAEMU, ahead of Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal. In West Africa, only Cape Verde, Ghana, and Nigeria are better than President Gnassingbé’s nation.

Lauding the remarkable progress, Sandra Jonhson commented: "Togo has chosen to focus on human-centered development." 

The UNDP attributes Togo’s improved performance to several factors, including “the creation of a functional institutional framework with programs to promote entrepreneurship, the development of the blue, green, circular, and digital economy sectors, the promotion of women's economic and financial inclusion,” or the country's “commitment to the fight against global warming and the promotion of renewable energies.”

Room for improvement

"This report is a rallying cry: we can and must do better," said Binta Sanneh, the UNDP's resident representative in Togo. She also congratulated the country on its notable progress despite the global challenges.

The latest edition of the UNDP’s Human Development Report covered over 190 countries and territories, taking stock of the current polarized world, and exploring new modes of cooperation.  The report aims to break the current deadlocks in human development worldwide.  

Octave A. Bruce

Togo will soon receive $200,000 (CFA122 million) from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The country will use the funds to draw its costed Climate Strategy. The announcement was made on June 18, 2024, in Lomé, during the national validation of Togo's vision for long-term low-carbon and climate-resilient development.

According to Seynabou Diaw, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Togo, the financing was extended in response to a request that Togo recently submitted to the National Determined Contributions Partnership (NDC Partnership). Diaw added that steps were being taken to provide the technical expertise needed to draw the costed Climate Strategy. 

The strategy will help Togo raise the funds necessary to ensure its climate resilience–CFA6 billion. 

Le Togo va bénéficier de 200 000 USD supplémentaires du @pnudfr pour la formulation d'une stratégie climatique chiffrée. C'est l'annonce faite ce matin par @NabouDiaw1 lors de l’atelier de validation nationale de la vision du dvlpmt à long terme à faible émission de carbone. pic.twitter.com/Ctz3cGx3VQ— Pnud Togo (@PnudTogo) June 18, 2024

The CFA6 billion, according to the Togolese Ministry of the Environment and Forest Resources should help mitigate the devastating effects of climate change and promote resilience among vulnerable communities.

The recent UNDP support adds to other funding the institution has already provided to Togo, including CFA146 million in 2022 for community projects in the field of environmental protection. The UN branch also supports the Togolese government's reforestation policy.

Esaïe Edoh

On World Sickle Cell Day, June 19, the city of Kpalimé (Plateaux region) hosted key events aimed at tackling the disease. These included awareness-raising activities and free screening.

Togo’s Research Centre on Sickle Cell Disease carried out the awareness-raising sessions and free screening. The activities covered 600 young pupils, apprentices, and school dropouts in Kpalimé.

On June 18, the Center received a delegation from FORTIS HEALTHCARE LIMITED, an Indian company specializing in the fight against sickle cell disease. The delegation proposed a partnership for assistance ranging from screening to appropriate treatment at a lower cost. The offer was well received, and the terms of the collaboration are currently being defined.

The delegation also visited the CHU-SO pediatric ward, where appropriate care continues to be provided for children with sickle cell disease, childhood cancers, and other blood disorders. There, the Indian delegation suggested organizing regular virtual meetings between Togolese, Indian, and American professionals to discuss clinical cases.

Sickle cell disease is a significant health issue in Togo, with 16% of the population affected. The country is very committed to the disease’s eradication.