Togolese businesses can now apply to participate in the Osaka 2025 World Expo, set to run from April 13 to October 13. The event will bring together 160 countries and nine international organizations. 

On March 28, the Ministry of Industry and Investment Promotion, in collaboration with the Togo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI-T), hosted an information session to announce the opportunities available at the expo. These include B2B meetings, thematic panels, and innovation showcases designed to help Togolese companies build strategic partnerships and access new markets.

Urging local businesses to attend the event, Alexandre de Souza, Togo’s Commissioner General for the expo, said: “Your participation in this global event is a unique opportunity to forge strategic partnerships and show the world that Togo is a country of the future, where innovation and inclusion go hand in hand.”

José Kwassi Symenouh, President of CCI-Togo, highlighted the expo’s significance as a platform for economic players to display their expertise and enhance their competitiveness internationally.

Togo’s presence at Osaka 2025 will feature three major events: Economic Day on August 19, Cultural Day on August 20, and Togo National Day on August 21. Under the "Saving Lives" section, Togo will present its thematic focus on "Social Inclusion and Protection Policy for Strong Economic Growth."

This article was initially published in French by Gautier Agbékodovi

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

The Togolese private sector contributed 76.8% of the national GDP last year, down from 77.1% the year before. The figures were shared on March 28 in Lomé, during the State-Private Sector Technical Consultation Committee meeting.

Essowè Georges Barcola, Minister of Economy and Finance, praised private companies for generating nearly 98% of jobs in Togo. "The private sector’s ability to innovate and propose solutions makes it central to our economic resilience," he said.

A government-private sector tax dialogue

A key outcome of the meeting was the announcement of a structured fiscal dialogue between the government and the private sector ahead of the 2026 budget process. The dialogue aims to align both sides’ views on taxation and boost the private sector’s support for budgetary decisions. Planned actions include workshops on agricultural taxation, accounting training, and SME promotion initiatives. 

Recommendations from the private sector

Private sector representatives welcomed the initiative at the meeting. Yva Badohoun, speaking on behalf of the private sector, outlined seven key recommendations to improve Togo’s business climate and foster inclusive economic growth.

Badohoun’s proposals include clarifying tax rules for imported software, reassessing taxes on telecommunications and ICT companies (TETIC), and activating the CAR and CARLD commissions to ensure swift and fair tax arbitration. He also emphasized appointing commission members with an operational timetable by June 2025 and simplifying customs procedures to cut costs and delays in commercial activities.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

In Greater Lomé, authorities have set up a special police station to secure bus stations and restore order. Inaugurated on March 26, 2025, by the Minister of Security and Civil Protection, Calixte Batossie Madjoulba, the station is located in Golfe 5.

The new station will strengthen police presence, combat illegal migration, and dismantle informal bus stations in the region. With public transport rapidly growing in Lomé, crime levels rose as well. This new facility addresses safety challenges and ensures compliance with regulations while monitoring passenger and goods flow.

The station features a reception desk, an administrative office, and two divisions for interventions and investigations. It aims to rebuild user trust by guaranteeing security and eliminating illegal practices.

"Bus stations once symbolized development, but have become hotspots for lawlessness. This police station restores order and provides users with a safe environment," said Akatao Babarime, Director General of the National Police. 

For local authorities, setting up the new police station is a step toward safer urban mobility and better transport oversight.

Togo has launched an e-learning platform to train local elected officials and authority staff. Developed by the National Training Agency for Local Authorities (ANFCT), the platform debuted on March 26, 2025, in Lomé.

Accessible at dev.anfct.gouv.tg, the platform offers seven training modules on local finance management, development planning, and financial resource mobilization. The platform provides flexible, interactive access to content that addresses decentralization challenges.

By using this system, the ANFCT is not only innovating education but also saving the state budget: they estimate that it could save over CFAF 3 billion annually. Denyo Komi Dodzi, Managing Director of ANFCT, believes this platform represents a winning economic and educational model.

With over 1,700 local councillors needing training for upcoming municipal elections, this initiative is timely. The German Development Cooperation (GIZ) supported the platform's development as part of the Decentralisation and Governance Programme (ProDeG IV).

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Construction of the new University of Kara (UK) campus in Togo is nearing completion, with over 90% of the shell finished, according to Higher Education Minister Kanka-Malik Natchaba, who visited the site earlier this week.

Launched in April 2023 by President Faure Gnassingbé during a groundbreaking ceremony, the project has progressed steadily over two years. Located in Pya, 12 kilometers north of Kara, the 250,000 m² campus is designed to meet international standards for public universities.

The campus will feature classrooms, laboratories, libraries, student residences, dining areas, and sports and cultural facilities. It aims to create a modern academic environment and improve learning conditions. With a capacity of 30,000 students—up from 20,000 at the current site—the campus will address growing demand for higher education in Togo.

This initiative aligns with a broader national policy to strengthen higher education and research. “The aim is to establish and promote a center of higher education and research in each region of the country,” officials stated.

Esaïe Edoh

The Joint Reinsurance Company of the Member States of the Inter-African Conference on Insurance Markets (CICA-RE), based in Lomé, posted a turnover of CFA117 billion for the 2023 financial year, up about 10% from CFA106 billion in 2022. The company exceeded its Board of Directors’ target of CFA110 billion. CICA-RE also reported a net profit of CFA10 billion, maintaining steady growth.

Between 2020 and 2023, CICA-RE’s turnover rose consistently: CFA87 billion in 2020, CFA96 billion in 2021, and CFA106 billion in 2022. Annual growth rates for 2021 and 2022 stood at 10.3% and 10.4%, respectively.

Growth drivers

Turnover growth in 2023 was mainly driven by subscriptions to Life and Non-Life treaties, which contributed CFA16.7 billion. Regional offices also contributed with notable production gains.

Moreover, output at the Central Africa branch soared 24.35% over the year reviewed. It generated CFA17.1 billion in 2023, representing 15.07% of total sales. The year before, the Central African branch had a turnover of CFA14.2 billion in 2022. In West Africa, turnover stood at CFA36.4 billion in 2023, up 11% from CFA32.8 billion the previous year, representing 30.99% of turnover. North Africa added CFA6.6 billion, a 14.28% increase from CFA5.8 billion in 2022, contributing 5.65% to the company’s activities.

Established in 1987 under the Inter-African Conference on Insurance Markets (CIMA), CICA-RE is a reinsurer for insurance firms. Based in Lomé, Togo, it unites member countries from West and Central Africa such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Chad, and Togo.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

The Togolese Parliament approved a major reform of the Togolese Revenue Office (OTR) on March 25, 2025. The Ministry of Economy and Finance introduced the new law, which redefines the OTR’s institutional structure by abolishing the supervisory board, reducing the number of directors, simplifying manager appointment procedures, and strengthening oversight by supervisory ministries.

The reform expands the OTR’s mandate to improve revenue mobilization and streamline tax management. It emphasizes economies of scale and tighter controls through the Inspectorate General of State and the Inspectorate General of Finance.

The government announced this reform months earlier by adopting a bill to initiate these changes. Parliament also passed a second text revising the legal framework for public companies, replacing a 35-year-old law. This update aligns with OHADA benchmarks and aims to enhance the economic and managerial performance of public entities.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togo secured CFA20 billion from the West African Development Bank (BOAD) to build and run the Lomé ministerial complex. Société de Construction de la Cité Ministérielle (SOCOCIM SAU) will lead this project.

The complex will include 18 administrative buildings, consisting of 8 towers ranging from R+8 to R+13 and 10 R+2 buildings. This initiative aims to modernize Togo's administrative system by consolidating ministerial departments into one location in Lomé.

BOAD projects that the construction phase will create over 1,000 jobs and generate an indirect added value of CFA11.6 billion annually. The complex will span 90,000 m² in Bè-Klévé, Golfe 3 commune, and feature offices, housing, shops, hotels, leisure areas, green spaces, and cultural zones.

The project has been in the pipeline for years, with preparations started in September 2022 and initial discussions in 2021.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togo secured CFA40 billion from the West African Development Bank (BOAD) to address urgent energy sector needs, including unpaid electricity bills. BOAD announced this financing during its 145th Board of Directors meeting held on March 26, 2025, in Lomé.

This funding aims to ensure the continuity of public electricity services amid regional supply disruptions, particularly from Nigeria. Compagnie Énergie Électrique du Togo (CEET), Togo’s power utility, has struggled with financial difficulties for years. In 2020, BOAD provided CFA25 billion to CEET for similar purposes.

The Togolese government has implemented structural reforms within CEET to restore financial stability, improve governance, and achieve universal electricity coverage by 2030. By 2022, CEET relied on imported electricity for 52.27% of its supply, mainly from Ghana and Nigeria, while local sources like ContourGlobal, Kekeli Efficient Power, AMEA Solar, and Nangbéto contributed 47.73%.

This article was initially written in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum