Togo First
Togo: Lomé to Host First West African Energy Cooperation Summit Next Week
From December 3 to 5, 2024, Lomé will host the first West African Energy Cooperation Summit (WA-ECS). Organized by EnergyNet Limited with the Togolese government and support from the World Bank, the three-day event will gather experts, policymakers, and investors under the theme “Stimulating West Africa's Growth through Strategic Partnerships in the Energy Sector.”
The summit will feature sponsors like African Trade and Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI), EDF, AMEA Power, Kekeli Efficient Power, and ContourGlobal. Some of the key projects that will be covered at the summit include the West Africa Energy Pool, The solar farms project in Mauritania, Togo, and Mali, and the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline.
The event will foster partnerships that support industrialization, agriculture, and other vital sectors in the region. It will also help local companies enhance their technical skills and access innovative financial solutions.
Mainly, the participants will cover topics such as attracting investment for energy infrastructure, cross-border collaboration, regional integration, and deploying renewable energies to meet 2030 targets. The strategic role of gas in the region's energy future will also be highlighted. “Improved energy availability is essential to boost industrialization, agriculture, and other sectors, including mining. This will contribute to the country's sustainable development,” said Abdoulaye Sylla, Managing Director of EnergyNet Limited. He added that “organizing such an event will position Togo as a key player in discussions about the future.”
Register to the Summit
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo's Minister Mila Aziablé Visits Kuwait for Update on Kara Water Supply Project
Togo's Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mila Aziablé, traveled to Kuwait on November 24, 2024. She is there to discuss the drinking water supply project for Kara, a town 414 km north of Lomé, with officials from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED).
The project, funded with CFA12 billion from KFAED, aims to provide water for the local population by increasing daily water production from 7,500 m³ to 17,500 m³. This will help meet the area's water needs by mobilizing an extra 10,000 m³ per day from nearby springs.
In addition to the Kara project, discussions will cover other initiatives to ensure sustainable access to drinking water for Togolese citizens. These talks are part of a broader strategy to attract new investments from KFAED, supporting Togo's ambition to achieve universal drinking water access by 2030.
Data from the Ministry of Water and Village Hydraulics shows that Togo's drinking water coverage has improved significantly, up from 47.66% in 2014 to 69% by the end of 2023.
Esaïe Edoh
IMF Lauds Togo as Model of Economic Stability
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) considers Togo as an emerging model of economic stability. The Fund’s Executive Director for sub-Saharan Africa, Ouattara Wautabouna, said so last week during a meeting with Togolese President, Faure Gnassingbé. The two men met in Lomé on November 20, 2024.
On the occasion, Wautabouna emphasized that Togo's economic performance reflects exemplary management, with macroeconomic indicators showing positive results. He pointed out that the nation has sustained robust economic growth above 5% while maintaining an inflation rate of around 3%. “Togo is a good pupil at the level of the International Monetary Fund, simply because the economic performance indicators are in the green,” Wautabouna said.
These remarks align with findings from an IMF mission in Togo last month. The mission, led by Hans Weisfeld, commended Togo's progress in implementing reforms under the 42-month program supported by the Extended Credit Facility (ECF).
The IMF delegation also expressed satisfaction with the Togolese government's economic and financial reforms, noting that they are proceeding as expected. This progress sets the stage for a forthcoming disbursement of $58.7 million (approximately SDR 44 million) under the IMF arrangement.
Wautabouna's observations underscore international acknowledgment of Togo's efforts to maintain economic and financial stability while fostering sustainable growth. Recent ratings from Moody's and Standard and Poor's (S&P) have also reflected optimism regarding the Togolese economy's prospects.
Esaïe Edoh
Togolese Startup Eazy Chain Joins Africa Global Logistics’ “Accelerate” Program
Africa Global Logistics (AGL), formerly Bolloré Transport & Logistics, has launched its "Accelerate" program in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The program targets African startups operating in the logistics sector. Six startups have been selected for the inaugural cohort. One of them is Lomé-based Eazy Chain, founded by Wilfried Dabire. The five others are PAPS and ALAL from Senegal, APPLOAD from Mozambique, and TAMBOUR and ALIA from Côte d'Ivoire.
The incubation program will help selected startups engage with mentors, explore innovative logistics solutions, and participate in project sprints to refine their offerings. The initiative is hosted at AGL's Yiri Innovation Center in Abidjan. It will last six months and incorporate diagnostics, pilot projects, and comprehensive follow-up to foster participants’ rapid growth.
"Through the [Accelerate] program, we will benefit from AGL's strategic resources and high-level coaching to realize this vision and sustainably transform the African maritime sector," said Eazy Chain founder, Wilfried Dabire.
According to Asta-Rosa Cissé, Regional Director of AGL Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso, the program is designed to accelerate the development of startups across Africa while enhancing their contributions to the digital transformation of the logistics industry.
Leveraging an Attractive Business Climate in Togo
Eazy Chain operates nationally under the brand "Togo Cargo" and aims to leverage this program to expand in Africa and abroad. "We chose to set up shop in Togo because of the ease of doing business, the security, and Lomé's strategic position as a regional hub," Dabire added.
The Eazy CHain CEO added: “Our flagship project is a feeder vessel service, designed to transform shipping in the region. This service will link the deep-water port of Lomé to the port of Praia in Cape Verde, with calls at strategic ports in the region. It will efficiently connect secondary ports to the main hubs, thus reducing logistics costs, transit times, and load breaks."
Over the next six months, Dabire’s firm will capitalize on the expertise of Africa Global Logistics (AGL), a significant player in the logistics sector with operations in 47 countries across Africa. The startup will mainly focus on enhancing its ship consignment capabilities, port management, and goods transit. This will improve its services and competitiveness in the sub-region.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo: Power Utility to Conduct Customer Satisfaction Survey This December
The Electric Energy Company of Togo (CEET) will launch a satisfaction survey on December 1, 2024. The utility will evaluate the quality of its services and products among subscribers. The survey will last two months and cover all six regions of the country.
“The operation consists of collecting subscribers’ opinions and measuring their satisfaction or dissatisfaction level regarding the quality of products and services provided by CEET,” the company stated in a press release.
The CEET hired Afriksurvey, a Senegalese firm, to conduct the survey. The deployed Afriksurvey staff will be “identifiable by vests and personalized badges,” the CEET informed.
The survey’s results will help the CEET better understand customer expectations and potentially enhance its services in Togo.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
MCC 2025: Togo Validates 16 Indicators, Up from 14 in 2024
Togo has once more confirmed its eligibility for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact program, a key funding initiative from the United States, by validating 16 out of 20 indicators for the MCC 2025. Togo had validated 14 indicators in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
This year, Togo successfully validated 7 of the 8 indicators related to "economic freedom." The country maintained its performance in "governing justly," confirming 5 out of 6 indicators, consistent with prior assessments. In the category of "investing in human capital," Togo validated 4 out of 6 indicators.
Among the newly validated indicators are natural resource protection, which received a score of 52 points, and the immunization rate, scoring 78.5 points. However, four indicators remain below the required thresholds. Political rights scored only 15 points, falling short of the minimum threshold of 17. Fiscal policy was also lacking, with a score of -6.6 compared to the expected median of -4.4. Health expenditure and child health scored 0.55 and 54.9 respectively, against medians of 1.11 and 60.5.
With these results, Togo retains its status as an eligible country for the Threshold program. At the same time, it continues striving to finalize its Compact agreement by the end of 2024.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo Launches Nephrology and Hemodialysis Center at Kara University Hospital
Togo’s Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Kara will soon have a nephrology and hemodialysis department. The project was officially kicked off on November 22, 2024, by Wotobé Kokou, Secretary General of the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene.
Ecobank Group and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) back the CFA485.6 million project. Once completed, the center will provide crucial specialized care for patients suffering from renal failure in the Savanes, Kara, and Centre regions.
Patients who need hemodialysis in these regions must travel 300 to 600 kilometers to reach Lomé's CHU Sylvanus Olympio, the only public facility offering such services in northern Togo.
Seynabou Diaw Ba, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Togo, remarked that this project “is a step towards improving access to quality health services for all of us in Togo.”
Modern Infrastructure
The new facility will cover 800 m² and consist of two levels. It will feature several essential facilities, including a dialysis room, a water treatment room, a technical room, a storage warehouse, a construction room, and a catheter room, as well as dedicated areas such as a patient checkroom, waiting hall, and sanitary facilities. Additionally, provisions will be made for medical waste management.
Construction is expected to take 18 months. The center aims to reduce patient travel to Lomé and serve an educational purpose by hosting medical students and trainees from paramedical schools. This project is part of the government's broader program to renovate and strengthen health infrastructure as part of the rollout of the Universal Health Insurance (UHI) program.
Esaïe Edoh
Lire aussi:
Togo: CFA711 Billion in Electronic Money Transactions Recorded in 2023
In Togo, e-money transactions reached a total value of 711 billion FCFA in 2023. The Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) disclosed the figure in report titled "Tableau de bord de la monétique régionale dans l'UEMOA à fin 2023". According to the document, released last August, the amount reported corresponds to about 7.95 million transactions.
In detail, withdrawals dominated the e-money landscape last year. They totaled CFA632 billion, or 88% of all transactions, value-wise. Withdrawals are made through cash dispensers (ATMs) and other electronic means. In comparison, bank card transactions were valued at around CFA570 billion five years ago in 2018.
In contrast, e-payments, made via bank cards, e-wallets, or payment platforms, amounted to CFA78 billion in 2023, or 10.9% of the total, value-wise. Cash advance transactions, which refer to cash advances obtained through bank cards, represented the smallest share, totaling just CFA362 million this year, or less than 1% of the overall volume.
Relative to card usage, nearly 430,000 cards (428,233) were circulating in Togo in 2023, accounting for 5.35% of all cards within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo: HAUQE Holds Workshop to Enhance Agri-Food Quality Standards
The High Authority for Environmental Quality (HAUQE) of Togo is holding a training workshop to bolster quality standards of agrifood products circulating in the country. The event started on November 19 and will last four days. It gathered 20 national experts who will be equipped with the necessary tools to help Togolese industries meet international quality standards.
“This certification training aims to guarantee the quality of products made in Togo. With the operationalization of the national quality infrastructure, our country must imperatively certify a certain number of products, particularly in the agri-food sector,” said Lare Arzouma Botre, president of HAUQE.
During the workshop, experts will learn to implement international standards, including the HACCP system, which focuses on identifying and preventing potential hazards in the production chain.
Quality consultant Nabila Okoulou-Kantchati noted more European and ECOWAS countries–and the US–have been demanding proof of product quality. Certification is thus becoming essential to get Togolese products across borders.
It is worth noting that the HAUQ recently launched certification programs for 31 food products made in Togo.
Lire aussi:
Togo to Revise National Biodiversity Strategy
Togo will revise its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (SPAN-B). Recently, local stakeholders held a validation workshop in Lomé in this framework. Organized by the Ministry of the Environment, the workshop aimed to help Togo align with global biodiversity standards, by integrating the 23 targets outlined in the Global Biodiversity Framework.
Jonas Komi Ante, who steers the revision project, highlighted key priorities such as preserving and restoring ecosystems, using resources sustainably, and financing biodiversity initiatives. Togo plans to engage local communities and the private sector in the process, stressing that collective efforts are needed to preserve biodiversity.
The revised strategy will have five objectives and 25 targets. Also, it will feature a multi-sectoral approach that includes contributions from private entities, youth, and women. Local authorities will also play an essential role in implementing the strategy.
Despite Togo's commitment to meeting its goals, challenges remain. A senior Ministry of Forest Resources official noted that a 2020 assessment revealed uneven progress toward national targets, with only 65% of awareness-raising efforts achieved.