Togo First
Togo Launches Competition to Train Next Generation of Insurance Technicians
The Togolese Ministry of Economy and Finance recently kicked off an international competition to enroll students at the Professional Training Center in Insurance (CPFA) of the International Insurance Institute (IIA).
The contest targets candidates from 15 African countries, including Togo, to form the 27th cohort (2025–2027) for the Diploma of Insurance Technician (DT-A).
Togolese applicants must submit their files by June 27, 2025, to the Insurance Directorate at CASEF. The selection process includes two tests: a French language and general knowledge exam, followed by a technical test in one of these fields—law, economics, insurance, mathematics, or statistics.
This drive aims to professionalize the insurance sector, a key pillar for financial stability and economic growth across West Africa. Building local expertise will help the region’s insurance market expand and thrive.
The International Insurance Institute, headquartered in Yaoundé, stands as a premier pan-African training center. Established in 1976 under the CIMA framework, the IIA has spent nearly five decades preparing technicians and senior managers for insurance firms, regulators, and intermediaries.
For more details, check the full call for applications here.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo: Government Encourages Businesses to Attend Next Intra-African Trade Fair in Algiers
Togo will join the fourth Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025) from September 4 to 10, 2025, in Algiers, Algeria. The Ministry of Commerce and Handicrafts urges Togolese businesses to register and take part in this key event promoting trade within Africa.
Afreximbank organizes the fair with the African Union and the AfCFTA Secretariat. The event follows the 2018 ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement and aims to be a top pan-African trade platform.
Togo plans to showcase its strengths in agro-industry, logistics, textiles, and handicrafts. The fair will help attract investments and open new markets as South-South trade grows.
Companies interested in participating should contact CETEF-Togo 2000, the national coordinator.
Faure Gnassingbé Opens Star Garments Factory at Adétikopé
Togo’s President of the Council, Faure Gnassingbé, officially inaugurated the Star Garments Togo textile factory, part of the Komar Group. The ceremony took place at the Adétikopé Industrial Platform (PIA) and gathered institutional figures, PIA officials, private sector leaders, and technical and financial partners.
“Backed by over 40 years of textile expertise, Star Garments chose Togo as its first location outside Sri Lanka—an important signal for our country and a strong vote of confidence in our industrial vision,” said Minister Manuella Santos during the inauguration.
The new plant covers 3.7 hectares and is expected to create 2,000 direct jobs in 2025, more than 60 % of which will go to women. The longer-term goal is to generate 4,520 direct and indirect jobs by 2030. The facility includes cutting, sewing, and finishing operations and is designed to meet the group’s global environmental standards, in line with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification applied at other Komar sites worldwide.
“This is more than just a factory. It represents a long-term commitment—Komar’s commitment to the people of Togo—for jobs, training, and elevating global production standards based on dignity and excellence,” said Charlie Komar, CEO of U.S.-based conglomerate Charles Komar & Sons.
“The choice of Togo is no coincidence. We chose this country because we see a rising nation, a government focused on economic stability, infrastructure development, and investment appeal,” he added.
Faure Gnassingbé personally cut the ceremonial ribbon alongside Charlie Komar before touring the industrial facilities.
The Star Garments project is supported by a $15 million investment (around CFA9 billion) from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and represents one of the most recent additions to the PIA.
Founded in 1978 in Sri Lanka, Star Garments is a subsidiary of Charles Komar & Sons, a leading American apparel group. Star Garments is the world’s first carbon-neutral clothing manufacturer and specializes in nightwear, loungewear, and layered garments distributed under more than 100 brands across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other international markets.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo Accelerates Energy Shift with 400 MW Solar Project
Togo is preparing to launch an ambitious 400-megawatt (MW) solar energy development project as part of its strategy to achieve universal access to electricity by 2030.
Last week, a technical workshop was held in Lomé to design the competitive process for the project’s implementation. The meeting gathered key energy sector stakeholders, including public authorities, regulatory agencies, the Togo Electric Power Company (CEET), and several technical and financial partners. Among them was RELP, a firm specializing in renewable energy promotion, which is supporting Togo in boosting its solar energy production and storage capacities.
Discussions at the workshop focused on defining a transparent and attractive framework for project allocation, validating a detailed implementation plan, assessing risks, and integrating market expectations. The primary goal is to ensure the program's technical and financial feasibility while upholding sound governance. This initiative also aims to stimulate private investment, create green jobs, and promote local content across the solar value chain.
The workshop follows a risk assessment survey on competitive public procurement in the photovoltaic solar sector, which began earlier this month. The 400 MW project aligns with Togo’s national commitments to energy transition and sustainable development. It is expected to strengthen the nation's energy autonomy, diversify its energy mix, and reduce its reliance on imports and fossil fuels.
Lomé Hosts West Africa Workshop to Tackle Agricultural Risks
Lomé is hosting a major regional workshop focused on managing agricultural risks in West Africa. The event started on June 16 and ends on June 20. It is organized by the ECOWAS Commission, Togo’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Water, and the Platform for Agricultural Risk Management (PARM).
The workshop aims to draw a regional program to help farmers withstand shocks such as droughts, floods, price spikes, diseases, and political unrest. It is worth noting that agriculture employs over 60% of West Africa’s workforce and contributes 35% to the regional economy.
ECOWAS Commissioner Massandjé Touré-Litsé opened the event by warning that “every drought, flood, price spike, or disease wipes away months or years of effort, threatening families, rural economies, and sometimes social peace.” She then urged leaders to “turn risks into opportunities” with bold agricultural policies.
Expanding the Partnership
The program builds on 10 years of ECOWAS-PARM collaboration. After pilot projects in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger, and Senegal, the partners plan to expand the effort to all ECOWAS states through a regional facility aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr. Emmanuel Koffi GLE of ECOWAS said, “ECOWAS Commission, in strategic partnership with PARM, decided to support our member states in managing agricultural risks and help integrate this issue into our policies.”
The workshop brings together experts, agriculture ministries, insurers, financial institutions, and farmers’ groups. They will identify top risks by country, share lessons, and develop solutions like crop insurance and climate-smart innovations.
More than 34 million people in West Africa face food insecurity, underscoring the urgency.
Togo: Adjafi Fair to Spotlight AfCFTA and SME Competitiveness
Togo will host the 13th Adjafi Fair from August 21 to September 7, 2025, focusing on how the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) can help small businesses compete and grow.
This year’s theme is “Improving the Packaging of Togolese Products for Better SME Competitiveness in the AfCFTA Market.” Organizers want to help young entrepreneurs boost product quality and break into African markets. They aim to give small and medium enterprises (SMEs), many led by youth, the tools to benefit from AfCFTA and increase trade across Africa.
The fair will feature two exhibition zones and welcome over 300 entrepreneurs from various sectors. The schedule includes an economic forum, a roundtable, a professional expo, and themed days focused on SME growth and competitiveness.
As always, the event will take place at the Agoè-Nyivé high school. Visitors can expect concerts, entertainment, and cultural shows, all celebrating Togolese music and culture.
This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum
Togo Expands Fuel Marking to Industrial Diesel to Fight Fraud
Togo’s government launched a product marking system for industrial diesel in May 2025 to tighten control over the hydrocarbon sector. The Ministry of Commerce leads the initiative to boost transparency in fuel distribution and protect tax revenues.
The program started with an awareness campaign for industry players and a stakeholder meeting on June 12 in Lomé. Swiss firm SICPA SA provides technical support.
The system targets industrial diesel first. This fuel enjoys a 50% tax break and is reserved for non-road equipment. Officials want to stop the theft of subsidized fuel, illegal imports, and fake gasoline that hurt the market and public finances.
Authorities plan to extend the marking to unleaded gasoline and road diesel soon. This will improve traceability for all petroleum products in Togo.
Togo: WACA Teams Up with University of Lomé to Boost Climate Funding
In Togo, the West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment (WACA-ResIP) has partnered with the University of Lomé to boost access to climate finance.
The collaboration began with workshops on June 16, 2025, training about 30 officials from key ministries to develop fundable projects for major climate funds like the Global Environment Facility, Green Climate Fund, and Adaptation Fund.
The World Bank, backing the WACA project, said the effort aims to create transformative projects that fit local needs. “We want to move from fragmented funding to large, structured projects,” Koffi Hounkpè, the World Bank’s representative, said.
University of Lomé President Adama Kpodar stressed the university’s role as a “strategic lever” to craft relevant climate projects and boost Togo’s leadership in global climate talks.
WACA ResIP strengthens coastal communities in six West African countries, including Togo, against natural and human threats. The project combines physical investments, institutional support, and regional cooperation to protect vulnerable coastlines.
In Togo, WACA has a $55.5 million budget and targets 200,000 beneficiaries. After finishing phase one in 2024, the project secured a two-year extension with extra funding from the French Development Agency.
This article was initially in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum
Togo Suspends RFI and France 24 for Three Months Over Biased Reporting
Togo’s media regulator, the High Authority for Audiovisual and Communication (HAAC), suspended French broadcasters RFI and France 24 for three months on June 16, 2025.
The HAAC claimed the outlets have repeatedly breached impartiality and journalistic standards. According to watchdog, in some programs, the broadcasters aired “inaccurate, biased, or false statements” that threaten the stability of Togo’s republican institutions.
The HAAC stressed that pluralism does not justify spreading falsehoods or biased news. It reminded all media that Togo’s journalism rules apply equally.
Among others, the regulator pointed to recent coverage of protests on June 5 and 6 in Lomé. The protests, partly fueled by social media influencers, faced police crackdowns and arrests.
The HAAC warned that press freedom cannot serve as a tool for disinformation or public disorder. It also raised concerns about foreign interference in Togo’s media space.
Last year, the HAAC also reprimanded RFI and France 24 during constitutional reforms. At the time, the regulator cited “serious breaches” and “repeated inaccuracies” that harmed Togo’s image and violated journalistic principles.
Togo Secured over CFA300B from BOAD over 2021-2025 Period
As it approaches the close of its 2021–2025 strategic cycle, the West African Development Bank (BOAD) has announced a 98.8% execution rate for its financing objectives. The institution injected more than CFA3,310 billion into the economies of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), surpassing expectations and strengthening its position as a key driver of regional development.
Over the same period, BOAD raised CFA4,510 billion in resources—137% of its original target—including CFA2,064 billion sourced from external partners.
The update came during the first edition of the BOAD Development Days, held in Lomé on June 12–13. The forum gathered government officials, financial partners, and policy experts to accelerate dialogue around financing energy transition and sustainable agriculture across West Africa.
Togo Secures CFA308 Billion in BOAD Financing
Togo emerged as a major beneficiary, receiving nearly 9% of BOAD’s total disbursements—approximately CFA308 billion between 2021 and 2025. These funds supported rural infrastructure, off-grid solar energy systems, agro-industrial development, clean water access, and education. Key projects include hydro-agricultural developments and solar installations in remote areas.
Togo’s Economy and Finance Minister, Essowe Georges Barcola, opened the forum, calling it “a platform for ideas and concrete actions for West Africa’s future.” He emphasized the alignment between BOAD’s Djoliba Plan and Togo’s national roadmap (2020–2025), which focuses on inclusion, food sovereignty, and energy access.
A Regional Impact Across Key Sectors
BOAD’s impact across WAEMU is measurable. The bank helped:
- Generate 1,440 MW of new energy capacity
- Rehabilitate 3,800 kilometers of roads
- Supply 308,240 cubic meters of potable water per day
- Build 8,195 classrooms
- Support over 23,000 SMEs
Also, CFA158 billion helped improve digital connectivity, reaching an estimated 1.8 million people.
Leading on Climate Finance
BOAD also reinforced its positioning as West Africa’s foremost climate finance institution, committing CFA242.4 billion to green initiatives—CFA163.4 billion for mitigation and CFA79 billion for adaptation.
“Climate change, rapid urbanization, and food insecurity force us to rethink production, investment, and consumption,” said BOAD President Serge Ekué, addressing officials and former prime ministers from Benin and Burkina Faso.
Security as a Prerequisite for Development
Minister Barcola closed the session by emphasizing the importance of peace and stability. “No development without security. Without peace, all efforts risk failure,” he stated.
Togo has long prioritized this vision. In 2012, it championed the WAEMU Peace and Security Policy under the leadership of President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé. Today, the country aims to integrate security-driven diplomacy into a broader regional development agenda.
The BOAD Development Days are now set to become an annual event, reinforcing Lomé’s emerging role as a regional hub for sustainable development finance.
This article was initially published in French by Fiacre E. Kakpo
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho