From Burkina Faso, the Togolese delegation from the Tax Revenue Authority (OTR) moved to Bamako, Mali. According to a tweet by the OTR, the delegation went to present tax incentives on goods that transit between Mali and Togo. 

The initiative was part of an open house at the Port of Lomé. Held on October 19, the event was themed: “Revitalizing business relations between Malian partners and economic operators and the Port of Lome.”

Behind the tour project is Alliance pour la Promotion du Port de Lomé (A2PL) (Ed. note: Alliance for the Promotion of the Port of Lomé). The project, A2PL said, aims to promote the port to Malian economic operators, providing them with competitive business opportunities.

Back in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, the Togolese delegation had presented both tax and non-tax facilities on transiting goods, as well as reforms introduced to dematerialize tax procedures and lower costs for operators. They also talked about the introduction of a cutting-edge scanner to accelerate controls.

It will soon be possible in Togo for Togocel and Moov users to switch networks without changing numbers. The initiative, aimed at increasing portability, is pushed by the country’s telecom regulator - ARCEP. 

“The regulatory authority has launched a public consultation which aims to explain to people the advantages of mobile number portability and conditions for its implementation in Togo,” a note issued by the ARCEP reads.

The consultation, the authority stresses, will either be carried out via call campaigns, on the ARCEP’s website, or the consumers’ association, or through the USSD code *880#. It ends on October 31, 2021.

“Portability,” the ARCEP adds, “will enable users to switch operators, while keeping their original numbers, in case the quality/service of one network or the other is poor, and/or to enjoy better tariffs and products of the competition.” 

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Fish importers whose sanitary certifications expired must renew them by November 20, 2021, latest. The warning comes from a statement recently issued by the Togolese Ministry of maritime economy.

Concerned companies are those with expired certificates that cover the period between 2015 to 2018. 

The ministry’s warning aligns with the law regulating fishing and sales of sea products in Togo. This law protects people against health risks and based on it, the government banned the importation of tilapia in April 2018.

Between 2018 and 2019, Togo’s fish production passed 37,000 tons, according to data from the Fishery and Aquaculture Office (DPA).

Esaïe Edoh

Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé, Togo’s PM, has been in Gabon since last Wednesday, on an official visit. Upon arrival, Toméga-Dogbé met with her Gabonese counterpart, Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, and they discussed ways to boost cooperation between the two countries.

In detail, the two Prime Ministers talked about common-interest issues and emphasized the need for their respective countries to innovate, to mutually benefit from their cooperation. “During yesterday’s work session with our Gabonese counterparts, we noticed the convergence between the development projects of Presidents Faure Gnassingbé and Ali Bongo, regarding industrialization, inclusion, and sustainable development; areas where we plan to improve our cooperation,” the Togolese PM said.

Besides these areas, the two countries plan to “define new mechanisms that will help leverage investment and development opportunities for the good of their respective people.”  This will be discussed further at the 7th session of the Gabon-Togo mixed great commission.

According to Ossouka (Gabon’s PM), over the past decades, Gabon and Togo have sustained “a cooperation model, an exemplary and dynamic partnership.”

It should be recalled that the two nations sealed in March 1975 a deal on the free movement of people and goods.  

Esaïe Edoh

A Togolese delegation led by the minister of trade and industry, Kodjo Adedze, is currently in Istanbul, Turkey, for the 3rd Turkey-Africa Business and Economic Forum. The event which started today ends tomorrow, according to the ministry of trade which disclosed the information. 

Adedze went to promote Togo’s private sector. He is accompanied by some representatives of that sector, such as the boss of the national employers’ association, the head of Togo’s Large Enterprises Association (AGET), and the second vice-president of the special consular delegation of the chamber of commerce and industry (CCIT). 

On the sidelines of this forum, the Togolese delegation met, on October 20th, the president of Istanbul’s chamber of commerce, Sekib Avdagic. They talked about potential cooperation between the two countries’ chambers of commerce.

The forum which aims at promoting Turkish and African investments takes place two days after Turkey’s President, Recep Erdogan, was in Lomé. On this occasion, officials from the two countries looked at ways to improve their commercial and diplomatic relations. 

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Lomé will host an international summit on cybersecurity on October 25 and 26, 2021. The forum is co-organized by Togo and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and should be attended by Heads of State, top private sector actors, and leaders of the African civil society.

During the meeting, participants will explore and assess the state of cybersecurity in Africa based on five aspects (legal, technical, organizational, capacity building, and cooperation), the state of cooperation regarding cybersecurity at the regional and global level, and the commitment to the Malabo convention on cybersecurity and private data protection. 

Commenting on the upcoming meeting, Togo’s Minister of Digital Economy and Transformation, Cina Lawson, said: “This Summit, which will be attended by eminent personalities, such as the President of the Togolese Republic, H.E. Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBÉ, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Ms. Vera Songwe, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Jean Claude Kassi Brou, among others, aims to make cybersecurity a top priority for our States.” 

“Now that the regulatory frameworks have mostly been put in place, we want to propose innovative ideas for operational cooperation, to address the threats, concretely and decisively. And given that our resources are limited, we have no choice but to work together,” she added.

Many political suggestions were made to the presidents expected at the Summit, on ways to boost cybersecurity in Africa.

In this regard, Lomé, it should be noted, has been taking steps over the past few years to reinforce its legal and operational framework in the sector. One of these steps includes the progressive implementation of the National Cybersecurity Agency (ANCY).

For more information about the Summit, visit its official website here.

Today and Tomorrow (Oct. 21 and 22), Lomé will host the World Summit for Girls. This is the first time the event is being held in Africa. Its organization is steered by Plan International Togo.

The summit, which will be mainly online, aims at creating a multicultural, intergenerational, and citizen space for all girls worldwide. It will be a place where girls can interact, improve and decide deep changes they wish to see in their respective milieu. The girls will also discuss their challenges and successes in terms of leadership.

Workshops, roundtables, conferences, and training sessions will take place during the event. Young girls, as well as advocates of women and girls’ rights, will attend, among others. All African organizations are also invited.

“It is a real pleasure and great responsibility for us to host this summit which is an opportunity for girls to express their full potential, increase their voice, and initiate high-level advocacy for their equality,” Plan International Togo declared.

The summit’s holding in Lomé falls in line with the Togolese government’s efforts to promote gender equity. Recently, the country was distinguished by the UNFPA and Plan International for its commitment to fostering women leadership. 

For more information or to register, visit the Summit’s dedicated website.