The PIA, an agro-industrial park, promotes the local processing of raw produce like cotton, cashew nuts, soybeans, coffee, and cocoa which are exported by Togo. 

Some of the projects already launched at the platform include TOGO Clothing Company, M Auto Electric Mobility, Togo Agro-Ressources SAU - which makes soy-based cooking oil, and Togo Wood Industries SARL.

It should be noted that Togolese authorities continue making efforts to attract external financing. For example, right before 2021 ended, on Dec 29, the parliament adopted two bills, one on public procurement and the other on public-private partnership (PPP) contracts.

The PPP bill aims to boost private investment in Togo in new sectors of activity, notably by improving the legal framework in the business environment.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Laurent Tamegnon, the head of Togo’s Council of Employers, met with representatives of the Institut de Formation en Alternance pour le Développment of Lomé last Wednesday. At the meeting, the council and the Institut (which specializes in construction) announced a partnership that will contribute to the emergence of Togolese professionals with real work experience. 

The Institut or IFAD of Lomé also launched its work-study course. According to Commi Nassini who is in charge of all IFADs established in Togo, half of the program takes place at the IFAD and the other half in companies. 

In line with the project, Lomé’s IFAD will soon sign a framework agreement with the Employers’ Council; an agreement that will pave the way to other bilateral conventions with several construction companies where students will acquire work experience.

The IFAD project, a government-led initiative, aims to produce competent professionals who can immediately integrate the work-life and adapt to changes occurring in their respective fields.

The IFAD of Lomé was opened less than a year ago. Around 100 students presently study there, in various fields including structural work, energy and fluids, carpentry and metalwork, and finishing works.

There are two more IFADs active in the country: one in Elavagnon and the other in Barkoissi. They are respectively specialized in Aquaculture and Husbandry.

The Decentralization and Local Governance Program (ProDeGoL) came to an end on January 31, 2022. A ceremony was held last Tuesday to mark the completion of the project which is financed by the EU and Germany. On the occasion, the Togolese ministry of territorial administration and decentralization received some equipment and vehicles. 

The equipment and vehicles - six 4x4 cars, three generators, computers, as well audiovisual and office equipment - were delivered to Payadowa Boukpessi, the state minister, by the German ambassador, Matthias Veltin, and the EU representative in Togo, Frédéric Varenne.

According to Togolese authorities, the ProDeGol will be replaced by a similar project - the Decentralization and Governance Project (ProDeG). “Its particularity is that it is in continuity with the support we have been providing to accelerate decentralization, both at the national and municipal levels,” said Dr. Omnia Aboukorah-Voigt, Head of the ProDeGoL. Indeed, “we plan to maintain our support at the national level, especially towards the development of capacity-building projects for all actors, especially municipal actors who promote and expand the decentralization process.”

For his part, the Minister of State said he was “[pleased] with the continuation of the program.” 

“I would like to invite the European Union not to end its intervention in this good governance program. I know that the EU is here now and will strongly support us in other communal areas,” he added.

Launched by GiZ, the German Cooperation, the ProDegol provided support to 13 municipalities in Togo: Zio 1, Kloto 1, Yoto 1, Ogou 1, Amou 1, Sotouboua 1, Tchaoudjo 1, Tchamba 1, Kozah 1, Binah 1, Bassar 1, Oti 1 and Tône 1. 

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

After completing its first 15-year bond issue in November 2021, the very first on the regional financial market, Togo will carry out a similar issue again on March 4, 2022. The operation should allow the Treasury to secure CFA30 billion.

In detail, Lomé will issue three million securities with a nominal value of CFA10,000 CFA, at a rate of 6% per year. Interest payment will begin next year and the principal will be repaid in March 2037.

It is worth noting that so far only Togo and Senegal have carried out such long-term issues on the WAEMU market; even if more countries are opting for these types of loans. However, Togo’s upcoming issue has an interest rate down by 30 basis points compared to the one it carried out last November, or the one Senegal carried out in December and which had an interest rate of 6.15% per year. 

Over the past four years, Togo has been relying heavily on the regional money market to meet its growing needs. This year, the country expects to secure CFA550 billion (against CFA557 billion in 2021) on this market, to finance its CFA1,779 billion budget. So far into the year, it has raised about CFA100 billion via three issues.

“The present issue of Assimilable Treasury Bonds in all member states of the West African Monetary Union (WAMU) aims to mobilize the savings of natural and legal persons to meet the financing needs of Togo’s budget,” said the WAMU-securities agency.

In Togo, income generated by fungible Treasury bonds is tax-exempt for local investors whereas non-residents are subject to the tax system applicable in their country of residence.

As a reminder, Togo’s outstanding debt on the WAEMU market was standing at CFA 1,537 billion at the end of December 2021, while the country’s public debt hovered around 59% of its GDP, or CFA 2,768 billion, at the end of June 2021.

Fiacre E. Kakpo

A change of legal structure, headquarters, corporate name, or capital size are examples of reasons that can push a legal entity to modify its statutes to align them with its new goals.

An in-depth look at the information needed to change legal entities’ statutes in Togo. 

Eligibility criteria:

Individuals with full legal capacity:

Cost of the procedure:  

• CFA24,125 for Togolese and ECOWAS nationals
• CFA29,125 for non-ECOWAS nationals

Processing time: 

24 hours after the application is submitted

Where to submit the application?

Name of the office: Center for Business Formalities (CFE)

Address : Angled corner between avenue de la Présidence & avenue Georges Pompidou located at the Togo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIT), B.P. 3210, Lomé, Togo.

Contact : +228 22 23 62 60

E-mail : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 Web Portal: www.cfetogo.org

Required documentation:

• A duly filled legal entity identification form
• A copy of the national ID card for Togolese citizens, the consular card for ECOWAS citizens, and the passport for other foreigners
• Proof of residence, namely the residence permit for ECOWAS citizens, the residence certificate for Togolese, and a visa for other foreigners
• A statement proving that the applicant has no prior or pending convictions
• A statute modification minute
• A photo ID of the manager or CEO of the branch office
• Original of the business id card or trade register

Since it does not have a legal personality, the branch or representative offices’ assets are usually incorporated into the head offices’. For most firms that plan to expand worldwide, opening a branch office allows them to keep control over operations to an extent.

In Togo, to change the name or address of the branch, or the representative of the head office,  or even to amend the business’ incorporation articles, statutory modifications are compulsory. 

Related formalities are conducted at the Center for Business Formalities (CFE).  For Togolese and ECOWAS nationals, the fee to pay upon requesting the changes is CFA24,125. Non-ECOWAS nationals for their part have to pay CFA29,125. The changes are made 24 hours after being requested.

Eligibility criteria:

Individuals with full legal capacity 

Cost of the procedure:  

• CFA24,125 for Togolese and ECOWAS nationals ;
• CFA29,125 for non-ECOWAS nationals.  

Processing time: 

24 hours after the application is submitted  

Where to submit the request?  

Name of the office: Center for Business Formalities (CFE)

Address : Angled corner between avenue de la Présidence & avenue Georges Pompidou located at the Togo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIT), B.P. 3210, Lomé, Togo.

Contact : 22 23 62 60

E-mail : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 Web Portal: www.cfetogo.org

Required documentation: 

• A duly filled legal entity identification form
• A copy of the national ID card for Togolese, the consular card for ECOWAS citizens, and the passport for other foreigners
• Proof of residence, namely the residence permit for ECOWAS citizens, the residence certificate for Togolese, and a visa for other foreigners
• A statement proving that the applicant has no prior or pending convictions which can be obtained at the CFE
• A branch office modification minute
• A photo ID of the manager or CEO of the branch company
• Original copy of the business ID card or trade register

The legal structure of branch offices allows companies to expand globally while at the same time retaining control of business operations since such types of companies have no legal identity and are fully incorporated with the head office. 

Cessation of activities after completion of corporate goals or even financial difficulties are some reasons that can push the head office of a company to dissolve one of its branches. In Togo, the related formalities should be carried out at the Center for Business Formalities (CFE). Applicants making the request must have full legal capacity. The cost of the procedure is CFA24, 125 for Togolese and ECOWAS nationals, and CFA29,125 for non-ECOWAS nationals.  

The request is usually processed within 24 hours and the branch office ceases to exist on the national territory.  

Eligibility criteria: 

Individuals with full legal capacity

Cost of the procedure:

• CFA24,125 for Togolese and ECOWAS nationals
• CFA29,125 for non-ECOWAS nationals

Processing time: 

24 hours after submission of the request. 

Where to submit the request?

Name of the office: Center for Business Formalities (CFE)

Address : Angled corner between avenue de la Présidence & avenue Georges Pompidou located at the Togo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIT), B.P. 3210, Lomé, Togo.

Contact : 22 23 62 60

E-mail : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 Web Portal: www.cfetogo.org

Required documentation:

• Amendment minute
• Original of the business ID card or trade register

When starting a business for the first, entrepreneurs often prefer creating an individual company, since it is a simplified type of business with no minimum capital requirement. 

However, while they have less complex legal characteristics, this type of business may fuse the entrepreneur’s assets with the business’. Moreover, it leaves no room for managing partners. 

Over time and as it grows, the entrepreneur will have to change the business’ status, notably for legal, financial, fiscal purposes or even in the event of a name or location change. 

The business owner can request necessary changes at the Center for Business Formalities (CFE), provided that he or she has full legal capacity upon submitting the request. For Togolese and ECOWAS nationals, the cost of that procedure is CFAF22,700 and for non-ECOWAS nationals, it is CFA27,700. 

Eligibility criteria: 

Individuals with full legal capacity 

Cost of the procedure: 

• CFA22,700 for Togolese and ECOWAS nationals
• CFA27,700 for non-ECOWAS nationals  

Processing time: 

24 hours after the application is submitted

Where to submit the application?

Name of the office: Center for Business Formalities (CFE)

Address : Angled corner between avenue de la Présidence & avenue Georges Pompidou located at the Togo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIT), B.P. 3210, Lomé, Togo.

Contact : +228 22 23 62 60

E-mail : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Web Portal: www.cfetogo.org

Required documentation:  

• A duly filled natural person identification form
• A copy of the national ID card for Togolese, the consular card for ECOWAS citizens, and the passport for other foreigners
• Proof of residence, namely the residence permit for ECOWAS citizens, the residence certificate for Togolese, and a visa for other foreigners
• A statement proving that the applicant has no prior or pending convictions
• A photo ID of the company manager or CEO
• Original of the business ID card or trade register 

Over the past decade, Togo’s business environment has undergone serious reforms. 

Once complex, slow, and costly, procedures have been democratized gradually, through reforms and innovations. This has made the country more attractive to investors and economic operators, and it has also improved its ranking in various indexes. 

Current procedures are better structured and simpler, making it easier to start a business, declare or pay taxes, undertake projects involving land, secure public contracts,  request authorizations or social protection. The same applies to procedures related to the free-trade zone. 

Our Togo Business Guide is designed to help you understand steps related to every procedure as well as associated reforms.