Togo has launched a territorial marketing strategy to boost the economic and tourism potential of five key towns: Atakpamé, Kpalimé, Blitta, Kara, and Aného. The initiative, led by the Ministry of Industry and Investment Promotion (MIPI) and supported by GIZ, was introduced in Atakpamé on January 30, 2025, by Minister Manuella Santos.

Through the project, the government seeks to reduce the concentration of development in Lomé, the capital, where over 60% of businesses and 71% of jobs are located. This strategy aims to promote regional assets, attract investors, improve infrastructure, develop key industries, and grow tourism. Set to run until 2029, the program will involve setting up special economic zones (ZES), building tourist circuits, and establishing industrial units tailored to each town.

Kpalimé: Tourism and Agribusiness

Kpalimé is known for its natural beauty and handicrafts but lacks structured tourism. There, the project includes building modern hotels, developing ecotourism trails, and improving attractions like Kloto Mountain and Womé waterfalls. Authorities also aim to boost local processing of coffee and cocoa.

Kara: Building a Training and Agro-Industrial Center

Kara is developing into a training and agro-industrial hub. With its university and technical schools, the city aims to train a skilled workforce for the agri-food industry. It is also home to an agropolis development project in its pilot phase. The goal is to create processing units for key crops like cereals, shea, soya, and cotton. 

A solar power plant will also be installed in the northern city to meet growing energy demands and ensure a stable power supply for local industries. The plan is to transform Kara into a growth hub for Northern Togo, focusing on training, industrialization, and innovation.

Aného: Ecotourism and Heritage Enhancement

Aného, the former colonial capital, plans to leverage its history and natural beauty to become a tourist destination. The government aims to restore important sites, improve hotel services, and create a tourist circuit linking Aného with cultural sites in neighboring Benin. The program will also promote seaside tourism and introduce ecological initiatives to protect local biodiversity.

Atakpamé: Evolving Agricultural and Industrial Center

Strategically located between the north and south of Togo, Atakpamé is set to become a regional hub for agri-food processing. The town has fertile land suitable for growing yams, vegetables, and tropical fruits, along with a tradition of livestock and fish farming. The goal is to attract industries that can process these products locally, reducing reliance on imports and adding value. Marketing campaigns will encourage investing in road and energy infrastructure to support new businesses. Atakpamé also wants to highlight its cultural assets to attract visitors through nature tourism and handicrafts.

Blitta: Facing Challenges in Setting Up a Special Economic Zone

Blitta, located in central Togo, is a key part of the country’s development plan. With its large land area and low urbanization, the town has a large untapped agricultural potential, especially in cash crops and livestock. To unlock this potential, the government plans to create a special economic zone (ZES) to attract industrial investments and promote local processing of agricultural products.

The strategy also includes upgrading transportation infrastructure and building a logistics network to turn Blitta into an agro-industrial distribution hub. This will require training local workers and improving access to basic services, like electricity and clean water.

The Togolese government has dedicated a budget to promote regional development and enhance territorial branding. This funding will be complemented by significant investments in infrastructure and special economic zones (SEZs), supported through public-private partnerships (PPPs) and international donors.

A Funding Plan to Support Aspirations

To attract investors, the government will organize investment forums in the five target cities, connecting local authorities with national and foreign investors. The strategy emphasizes digital tools, including social media campaigns, multimedia content, dedicated city platforms, and cultural events like festivals.

This ambitious plan aims to rebalance Togo's economic development by leveraging the potential of its regions.

Fiacre E. Kakpo

According to the Togolese Revenues Office (OTR), vehicle owners in Togo must settle the  Motor Vehicle Tax (MVT) by March 31, 2025, before inspections start on April 1.

The payment process for the TVM has been fully digital since last year, as part of efforts to modernize tax collection. The OTR encourages everyone to use its online platform to avoid delays and penalties.

The TVM ranges from 5,000 to CFA40,000, depending on the vehicle type. It applies to all registered vehicles in Togo, including motorcycles over 125 cm³, tricycles, commercial vehicles, trucks, buses, and heavy goods vehicles.

Introduced in 2019, the MVT is important for maintaining the national road network and supports the Société Autonome de Financement de l'Entretien Routier (SAFER). In the first quarter of 2024, the TVM generated CFA1.35 billion before inspections began.

The Togolese Ministry of Health announced that Togo is gearing up for its 4th Demographic and Health Survey (EDST-IV) this year.  The EDST-IV steering committee held its first meeting on January 28. It recorded the participation of the Ministry of Planning and various technical and financial partners and was led by the Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, Prof. Tchin Darre.

The EDST-IV is part of the International Demographic Health Surveys (DHS) program and will be overseen by the National Statistics Institute, the INSEED. The survey aims to gather reliable and current data on key health indicators, including maternal and child health, healthcare access, vaccination rates, and disease prevalence.

This fourth survey follows earlier editions conducted in 1988, 1998, and 2013-2014. The results will help shape public health policies and development strategies in Togo.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Chad is actively seeking support from Togo for its candidacy for the presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB). On January 28, 2025, Chad's Prime Minister, Allamaye Halina, met with President Faure Gnassingbé in Lomé on January 28 to discuss this matter.

Halina conveyed a message from Chad's leaders, expressing confidence that Togo's diplomatic influence could help secure support for Chad's bid. "Chad has presented a candidate for the presidency of the AfDB and naturally, President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno is counting on the support and leadership of his brother Faure Gnassingbé," Halina said after the meeting.

Chad's candidacy already has backing from the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). However, gaining support from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) would further strengthen its position. N'Djamena believes Togo can play a crucial role in influencing its West African partners.

The outgoing AfDB president, Akinwumi Adesina of Nigeria, has been in office since September 2015. His term ends this year, with the next president to be elected by the AfDB's Board of Governors on May 29, 2025, during its Annual Meeting in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

Esaïe Edoh

Starting February 1, 2025, Togo's tax office, the Togolese Revenue Office (OTR), will check if road hauliers have paid the  Unique Professional Tax (TPU). These checks will focus on payments for the fourth quarter of 2024.

OTR agents will be stationed on major roads to ensure that transport operators have paid this tax, often called "quarter." With just a few days left before these checks start, the OTR reminds transport companies that they still need to make their TPU payments for the last quarter of 2024. They encourage industry workers to follow the rules in article 57 of the  Book of Tax Procedures.

The TPU is a flat-rate tax paid quarterly, based on estimated sales for each type of vehicle. To make it fair, the tax office has created a fee schedule that considers the type of transport, vehicle size, and weight.

Esaïe Edoh

The Banking Commission of the West African Monetary Union (WAMU) has sanctioned a Togolese bank for failing to meet its anti-money laundering standards. During the Commission’s 144th session on December 16, 2024, regulators singled out the lender for infringing its legal and regulatory requirements.

The undisclosed bank was criticized for weaknesses in tackling money laundering and financing of terrorism (AML/CFT). It was thus fined CFA151 million after an inspection.

Last year, another bank in Togo and one of its executives were also sanctioned for financial irregularities.

Togo is not alone in facing sanctions; a bank in Senegal was fined CFA300 million, and an institution in Benin received a penalty of CFA38 million.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

The Dogta-Lafiè reference hospital, which opened in Lomé in April 2023, has now launched an annex in Kara, northern Togo. President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé inaugurated the new facility on January 24.

This annex aims to enhance healthcare services for the northern region of Togo. It aligns with the national strategy to achieve universal health coverage by 2030. Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, Tchin Darre, stated that the center's construction supports the goal of providing quality healthcare to all citizens, regardless of their location.

The Kara annex offers various services, including medical imaging, radiology, hemodialysis, ophthalmology, and dental care. It features advanced equipment such as a high-field 1.5 Tesla MRI, the first of its kind in Togo, which will help diagnose complex conditions like brain and heart issues.

Additionally, the center has a digitized X-ray system designed for cancer-related examinations. The opening of this hospital is part of broader efforts to strengthen Togo's healthcare system, which includes rehabilitating Lomé and Kara University Hospitals and constructing mother-and-child hospitals.

Esaïe Edoh