Togo First
Boris Johnson congratulates Togo for efforts made to improve business climate, among others
The President of TOGO, Faure Gnassingbé, and the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, met last Friday in London. This was on the sidelines of the global summit on education.
The two leaders, according to the Togolese presidency, mainly talked about Lome's reforms to improve the business climate and attract private investors in economic sectors with high potential.
They also discussed Togo's efforts in terms of clean energies. In this regard, Johnson praised the West African country for its commitment to these energies. He specifically lauded the CIZO solar kits project, the recently commissioned Kekeli Efficient power plant, and Blitta's PV power plant.
During the talks, the UK's Prime Minister also emphasized Togo's contribution to the preservation of peace and security in the West Africa and Sahel region.
Other bilateral topics, aiming to strengthen the ties between the two countries, were discussed.
Togo, it should be recalled, has been taking steps, since 2014, to join the Commonwealth.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo hosts international conference on grassroots development
Lomé is currently hosting a two-day international conference on grassroots development. The meeting, which focuses on public policies benefiting grassroots populations, and began on July 29, is an initiative of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
The conference was opened by Togo’s PM Victoire Tomegah-Dogbe, Mario Pezzini, director of the OECD development center, and Myriam Dossou-d’Almeida, minister of grassroots development.
Development experts, officials, and administrators participating in the event, physically and virtually, will discuss various experiences acquired relative to grassroots development.
Togo, let’s highlight, made social inclusion one of the pillars of its government roadmap. In this framework, it has, over the past few years, introduced a battery of reforms and development policies to support grassroots communities. These efforts are coordinated by the ministry of grassroots development, youth and youth employment.
Klétus Situ
Faure Gnassingbe and Boris Johnson to discuss Togo’s adhesion to Commonwealth
His Excellency Faure Gnassingbé, President of Togo, and Boris Johnson, UK’s Prime Minister, were set to have a tête-à-tête on the sidelines of the Global Education Summit that just ended in London.
Announced by official sources, the meeting aimed to get both leaders to discuss the relationship between their countries, as well as bilateral cooperation. Also, it concerned Togo’s adhesion to the Commonwealth, the same sources indicated.
Togo, indeed, has wanted to join this community since 2014. In this framework, a Commonwealth delegation was in the West African country in June. They met with the Togolese Prime Minister Victoire Tomegah-Dogbé, officials of the government, members of the civil society organization, media and political parties.
The British delegation, let’s recall, should issue a report which will be key to defining the next steps to follow regarding Togo’s adhesion to the Commonwealth.
Esaïe Edoh
Government to adopt a bill to better regulate transshipping in territorial waters
Transshipping operations in Togolese waters will be regulated henceforth. This was decided during a council of ministers held July 24, in Kara. A draft bill was examined in this framework.
Explaining the move, the government said that “though they developed in our country, taking into account security issues prevailing in our territorial waters,” transshipment operations are threatened.
Looking at the risks inherent to this activity, and at its economic reach, it became necessary to better regulate it, the authorities added. The adoption of the examined bill will thus “fix rules to regulate these operations and their environmental impact.”
Transshipping represents a significant share of activities at the Port of Lomé. They are responsible for the port’s position as a regional hub.
In 2019, the Port of Lomé ranked among the top five transshipping platforms in Africa, and the second in the sub-Saharan region. That year, the infrastructure handled 1.5 million TEU, according to La Lloyd’s List, a UK magazine with a focus on the maritime sector.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo dedicated nearly 50% of its revenue budget to investment projects in 2020
Over the past year, the government of Togo dedicated 48% of its revenue budget (grants included) on investments. This corresponds to CFA444 billion (out of CFA926 billion), according to the BCEAO.
Compared to 2019 where the country spent CFA234.7 billion (or 28.5% of its revenue budget that year) on investment projects, the amount disbursed last year has almost doubled.
When it comes to investment to revenue budget (grants included) ratio, Togo ranked fourth in the WAEMU in 2020. It came behind Niger, Guinea Bissau, Senegal, which dedicated respectively 69.5%, 49.96%, and 48.15% of their revenue budgets to investments, that year.
Regarding foreign direct investments (FDI) in Togo, data from UNCTAD shows that they soared from CFA191 billion in 2019 to CFA352.5 billion in 2020 (+85%).
Klétus Situ
Africa Global Recycling has processed over 10,000 t of waste since 2013
Over the past eight years, Africa Global Recycling (AGR) has collected, transformed, and valorized more than 10,000 t of waste products, according to Edem d’Almeida, founder and MD of AGR.
Speaking in an interview, d’Almeida added that “in 2020 alone, 20,000 t were processed, despite the health crisis’ impact on our activities.”
Committed to protecting the environment and fostering sustainable development, AGR has since its establishment launched various waste collection projects. Recently, it launched Ecobox, a 3-year project targeting 117 municipalities across Togo.
“We want to support the government’s efforts. This project is a local development tool to serve the youth and local communities, and we conceived it at the crisis’ apex,” the entrepreneur said.
Founded in 2013, AGR provides businesses and individuals with innovative solutions; solutions oriented towards boosting economic growth while preserving the environment.
Esaïe Edoh
Government sets up a committee to oversee reimbursement of funds collected, illegally, by trading entities
Via a decree issued on July 19, 2021, the Togolese minister of finance Sani Yaya established “a committee to monitor the repayment of funds collected by firms that conduct illegal financial and monetary activities.”
The new entity will “hold meetings with the top management of concerned firms, proceed to legitimacy controls, assess their financial situation, and fix modalities to reimburse funds they collected.” It will regroup representatives of the General Directorate of Economic Studies and Analysis, the General Directorate of the Treasury and Public Accounting, the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), the General Inspectorate of Finance, the Support and Monitoring Unit for Microfinance, Savings and Credit Institutions (CAS-IMEC), and the Legal Unit of the Ministry of the Economy and Finance
In line with article 3 of the ministerial decree, the committee will be chaired by the secretary-general of the ministry of finance and economy. He will be backed by a technical team.
Yaya’s decision follows the issuing last March 26 of a notice prohibiting high-risk placement activities in Togo. Subsequently, businesses carrying out these activities were shut down.
Esaïe Edoh
AfCFTA: Togo launches national consultations to take stock of women entrepreneurs’ needs
The ministry of trade, industry, and local consumption launched yesterday the National consultation Day on women's involvement in intra-African trade. The launch, which took place in Lomé, aligns with the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The ministry, through the said consultations, plans to provide women with a platform to express their needs and interests, relative to trade in the framework of the AfCFTA. They will “enable women and other key actors to identify potential and existing challenges and opportunities that women who engage in intra-African trade face.”
The consultations will be carried out throughout the country. They are also expected to allow women to know more about issues related to the export and import of goods through African borders.
The decision to launch these sessions follows a battery of workshops organized, last month, for women entrepreneurs.
African countries, let’s recall, have officially started trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA).
Esaïe Edoh
Togolese authorities set up estival agenda to boost the diaspora’s contribution to national development
To support its diaspora’s contribution to national development, the Togolese government has drawn an “Estival Agenda for the Diaspora”. In a recent tweet, Robert Dussey, minister of foreign affairs, disclosed the information.
The scheme targets Togolese nationals who have returned home for the summer vacations. It will, in effect, provide technical and administrative support to those who have investment projects likely to advance Togo’s economic development.
To better serve you, we will help you know more about municipalities so that you can develop your respective hometowns if you wish to do so, Dussey wrote.
Still in line with the initiative, a campaign to “identify Togolese living outside the country will be launched and the Single Diaspora Window will be presented,” during “information and welcome days.”
Every year, remittances sent home by the diaspora amount to about $500 million or more than CFA278 billion. Last year, these monies stood at $441 million (CFA283.3 billion), down from $458 million (CFA247 billion) in 2019.
It should be recalled that the government of Togo - still to have the diaspora contribute more to national development - established the High Council for Togolese Abroad (HCTE) and the Single Diaspora Window, among others.
Esaïe Edoh
Translated from French by Schadrac Akinocho
Togo was losing around CFA6 billion on beer and tobacco imports, before the automated branding system arrived
Before the automated branding system was introduced, respectively 80% and 40% of the beer and tobacco products that were imported and sold in Togo evaded control by the tax administration. The information was reported by Africatimes.
The news outlet said Togo lost over CFA3.5 billion and CFA2.5 billion as a result of the products mentioned not being taxed. Combined, this sum makes nearly 41% of the fiscal gap recorded by the country yearly (on consumption goods).
The automated branding system is mainly used by water and drink companies set up in Togo. With this system, the Togolese tax office started, last July 1, checking for branding on imported products, at borders and internal sales points. The system was developed by SICPA, a Swiss firm.
Klétus Situ
Translated from French by Schadrac Akinocho