Togo First
Togo: KfW has injected more than CFA100 billion into local projects so far
The German Development Bank, KfW, has invested more than 102 billion CFA so far in Togo. The money was poured into seven projects spread in the following sectors: health, energy, decentralization, rural roads, technical and vocational education.
This was disclosed in the latest review of projects financed by the German Financial Cooperation in Togo, which was held virtually on March 10, as reported by the Togolese Presidency. The meeting was chaired by Ablamba Ahoéfavi Johnson (photo), Minister, Secretary-General of the Presidency of the Togolese Republic, in the presence of the Director of the Togo office of KFW, Sonja Wassermann.
“At the end of the meeting, both parties expressed their satisfaction with the positive results recorded and welcomed the dynamism of cooperation,” the government said.
For Togo, the review mainly helped it take stock of the implementation of the recommendations of the previous review (organized in November 2021), and the status of each project. It also was the occasion to align the country’s actions with the German partner “with the new dynamics of programming, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of public investments induced by the Government Roadmap 2020-2025,” the same source said.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
MIATO II: Over 300 exhibitors expected
The second edition of the International Market of Crafts of Togo (MIATO) should start on March 23 and end on April 3. This edition should welcome more than 300 exhibitors, twice the number that attended the first edition.
The forecast was disclosed by the minister delegate in charge of technical education and handicrafts, during the council of ministers held last Monday, March 7.
The theme of the upcoming fair is “Crafts and competitiveness”. It aims to encourage more craftsmen to formalize and innovate, to make Togo more competitive in this industry, both regionally and internationally.
The first edition of the MIATO was held in 2019, between Oct. 25 and Nov 3. It brought together over 160 exhibitors and more than 150,000 visitors from a dozen countries. The event, which is supposed to be held twice every year, was postponed several times due to Covid-19.
Togo: Government adopts two new draft bills to oversee remote work and temporary jobs
After having worked two weeks ago on the conditions to which the right to strike is subjected, and the creation of a National Labor Council (CNT), the Council of Ministers that met last Monday has defined conditions governing remote and temporary work in Togo.
In this framework, two decrees were adopted–the first on the conditions and modalities related to remote work.
“Taking into account technological developments, international circumstances of all kinds, and in the application of the new labor code, this decree determines the principles, conditions, and procedures governing telework or remote work,” read the Council’s statement.
The text, adopted by the government, “provides a framework for adjusting ways of working when necessary, and technology allows it,” the document further indicates.
The second draft decree adopted sets the conditions related to temporary work. “This decree, taken per the provisions of the new labor code, is intended to set the conditions for the implementation of temporary work,” knowing that the contract of temporary work is a contract that binds a worker to a temporary business or work or a contract for workers’ supply.
This second bill, according to Lomé, is an update “which takes into account the emergence and development of companies and temporary businesses,” ensuring employees’, especially companies and temporary companies, “adequate legal protection.”
Togo: A little more than 2500 businesses were newly registered in January and February 2022
Last month, 1,278 businesses were freshly registered at the Center for Business Formalities (CFE) in Togo. This is 1.7% less than the 1,300 registered the previous month.
Thus, in January and February 2022, a total of 2,578 new businesses were set up in the country, down 7.2% compared to the 2,765 businesses registered over the first two months of 2021, with respectively 1,390 in January and 1,375 and February (-1%).
In further detail, in January-February 2022, 1,085 of the newly-created businesses were registered by Togolese citizens against 193 by foreigners. We also note that 904 businesses were registered by men and 374 by women.
Togo: More than 25,000 volunteering women were mobilized by the ANVT since its creation
Over the past decade, the National Agency for Volunteerism in Togo (ANVT) has mobilized more than 25,000 women volunteers, about half of all volunteers enrolled over the period. “Since 2011, the ANVT has mobilized, for all its forms of volunteerism, 25,406 women (52%) of the total number of national volunteers mobilized. This day, which celebrates the rights of women, is the perfect opportunity to pay tribute to them,” the agency wrote in a publication released on March 8th.
Many eminent public figures also intervened on the same day. This includes President Faure Gnassingbé who urged concerned actors to “commit to building an egalitarian society.”
The ANVT (Ex Provonat), was established in 2011 under the supervision of the Ministry of Grassroots Development, Handicrafts, Youth and Youth Employment. Its mission is to promote and enhance the voluntary commitment to the development of the country.
Togo: The number of businesses started by women in 2021 was up 24%, compared to 2019
The number of businesses created by women in Togo, rose from 3,049 to 3,739 between 2019 and 2021, up about 24%, according to data from the Centre de formalités des entreprises (CFE) compiled by Togo First.
In detail, women created 3,049 businesses in 2019, which is 26% of the total registered at the CFE that year, knowingly 11,514. The following year, businesswomen created 3,426 firms, thus 11% more than in 2019, and 10% less than in 2020 when they created 3,739 businesses.
Combined, the number of businesses created by women over these three years stood at 10,214, out of 37,784 in total.
More women were able to start businesses because they could secure loans more easily, as indicated in a World Bank study titled “The benefits of gender: Unleashing the potential of women's entrepreneurship in Africa.” The report states that more than 70% of women entrepreneurs in Togo have borrowed money for their businesses. In Nigeria and South Africa, 60% and 45% of women entrepreneurs have sought and obtained credit respectively.
The same document emphasizes that Togo is the only country in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) where microenterprises run by women are more profitable than those run by men.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo: Over two billion CFA invested in the extension of the Niamtougou airport’s runway
Rehabilitation works at the Niamtougou International Airport will begin soon, thanks to an investment of 2.2 billion CFA francs. The Director-General of the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC), Colonel Gnama Latta, disclosed the news on March 7, 2022.
In detail, these works will involve the airport’s runway from 2,500 m to 3,000 m, fencing the perimeter, and securing the terminal.
According to ANAC’s head, the works will help accelerate the project to open a State-owned airline that will service Niamtougou from Lomé.
They will also enable Togo’s second airport to meet international standards and serve as a base for exporting various cash crops like mango and tomato, grown in the area where it is located. There is also the tourism aspect, which the infrastructure should help boost.
Launched in 2010, the rehabilitation of Niamtougou’s airport aims to make “the platform a reference for airport logistics, especially for cargo traffic to hinterland countries.”
Esaïe Edoh
Togo: Five new bridges to be built on rural roads
The Togolese Ministry of Rural Roads will start building five bridges on rural roads in the five (5) regions of Togo. The ministry issued a tender in Togo National, a State-owned newspaper, earlier this week in this framework.
The bridges include an 80m-long mixed steel bridge on the Agbélouvé (National Road No. 1) - Zafi - Ahépé (RN 4) road; a 60m-long bridge on the Ogou Agrani-Kamina road; another 60m-long bridge on the Tchamba - Dagmagouloudè road which spans 12 km; and two bridges (40 and 30m long respectively), on the Gouloungoussi-Zoubiékou road.
In addition to these projects, there are several rural road development works (opening, clearing, and brushing of access roads, in particular) underway.
The rehabilitation and construction projects, financed by the State Investment Budget (BIE), are part of the government's 2020-2025 roadmap, under its component aimed at opening up remote areas and building roads in rural areas.
The estimated budget for this work, planned in Togo’s five regions, is nearly CFA24 billion. The works, meanwhile, will cover 1,250 km of road track.
Togo completes its second 15-year bond on the UMOA-securities market, raises CFA30 billion
Today, March 4, 2022, Togo has completed the issue of its second 15-year bond on the UMOA-securities market. Lomé obtained the amount it was seeking for this operation: CFA30 billion.
In detail, the country issued fungible treasury bonds that have a nominal value of CFA10,000 and an annual interest rate of 6%. According to the report of the Umoa-securities, 25 investors from the Union’s eight member-States took part in the operation, bidding a total of CFA57 billion. The amount corresponds to a subscription rate of 190%.
In November last year, Togo successfully issued its first 15-year bond, its lengthiest on the regional market. Proceeds of this issue amounted to CFA55 billion.
In 2022, Lomé plans to raise CFA550 billion to finance its estimated budget of CFA1,779 billion.
Esaïe Edoh
Nunya Lab gets a new business manager
Ismaël Kassime, a young Togolese entrepreneur and promoter of Label Lafiè, is the new business manager of the Nunya Lab incubator.
He assumed the position at the beginning of this month. As the business manager of the incubator, which is located at the Maison des Jeunes de Lomé (Amadahomé, southwest of Lomé), Ismaël Kassime will provide support to young entrepreneurs, to coach incubated teams based on their goals, and put them in contact with mentors.
"It is an honor for me to put my experience at the service of young entrepreneurs and my country," said the newcomer, speaking to Togo First. "With the dynamic team of Nunya Lab, we will work to further strengthen the capacity of our incubates, young women especially, regarding value and wealth creation," he added.
Ismaël Kassime started several businesses in the agribusiness and consulting sectors. He is also a former president of the Association of Fellows of the Regional Center Yali Dakar in Togo.
Before him, Urbain Amoussou, also an entrepreneur and promoter of the Urban Business and Entrepreneurship Center (CUBE), was the one occupying the position of business manager at Nunya Lab.
Nunya Lab is a center dedicated to entrepreneurship and innovation in Togo. Opened in 2019, it is a project of the Ministry in charge of grassroots development, launched through the Support Fund for Youth Economic Initiatives (FAIEJ), and supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
Ayi Renaud Dossavi