In Binah, a district located in the northern part of Togo, a rice mill generated CFA432 million over the past two years. The figure was published by the Shared-risk Agricultural Financing Incentive Mechanism (MIFA) which supported the company over the period concerned. 

The mill, headed by Aristide Agbossoumonde, produces and processes paddy rice, and sells it under the brand Riz Délice. From Mifa, it benefited from the financial support of CFA251 million in the last two years (CFA101 million in 2019 and CFA150 million in 2020). 

In terms of job creation, the mill created 6,328 over the period reviewed, including 78 jobs directly linked to the plant and 6,240 jobs related to rice production (of which 1,560 jobs for farmers). Recently, PM Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé visited the rice mill. 

Séna Akoda

Following a tender, four companies - one Tunisian and three locals, have been contracted for the water network displacement project along the 75km-long Sokodé-Bassar road. The beneficiaries will cash in around CFA390 million for their services. 

In detail, the Tunisian Soroubat will carry out construction works falling under the project while the other three, BTP CGCO, IMS & A, and NECBAPS BTP, with support from Nigerian firm DMA GROUP, are in charge of displacing the water networks cluttering the road to rehabilitate. 

The project was launched last Saturday by Togolese Prime Minister, Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé. Set to be completed within 24 months, it cost CFA35 billion. 

Séna Akoda

In the 2021-2022 agricultural campaign, CFA500 million will be dedicated to cattle production development zones (ZAPB). This was reported in the minutes of the council of ministers held on February 10, 2021, in Kara. 

A ZAPB is an area where cattle from a given region are raised. It has natural assets and basic social infrastructure such as schools, dispensaries, veterinary clinics, etc.

The project is funded by the Program for Support to Vulnerable People (PAPV). The disbursed funds will serve to develop 10 pilot ZAPBs. 

According to the council of ministers, they will be located in the following prefectures: Zio, Lacs, Haho, Ogou, Anié, Blitta, Tchamba, Bassar, Kozah and Oti

In the long run, 80 sites of 100 ha each will be established across all the five economic regions of the Togo. 

Let’s recall that the country aims to make agriculture a major growth driver. In this order, CFA66 billion is allocated to the sector, which is 8.4% of all resources dedicated to the ministries and institutions. 

Séna Akoda

For the 2021 calendar year, Togo reduced its legal interest rate to 4.2391%. This was disclosed during the meeting of the council of ministers that was convened on Feb. 10, in Pya (in the Kozah prefecture). 

Last year, the rate was 4.5000%, the same as in many countries of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), according to data from the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO).

It should be remembered that the legal interest rate, set by the public authority, increases any sum owed by a debtor to his creditor, following a court decision, and in the event of late payment. This figure is used in particular to calculate interest on sums to be paid in the event of a late debt settlement ordered by a court decision, and on a loan, in the absence of an effective interest rate provided for in the contract.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Diwa Industries made an investment of CFA7.5 billion that should generate 180 permanent jobs in Togo. 

The cooking gas company sells Sodigaz and Enora gas bottles in the country with an annual production capacity of 500,000 cylinders (and 1,200 cylinders per day for requalification). Through this project, Diwa Industries wishes to "position itself as a strategic actor in the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA". The news was announced by the Togolese Ministry of Trade during a visit by the minister, Kodjo Adedze at the firm’s headquarters in Blitta. 

Steel Cube Togo announced it would soon create over 1,000 direct jobs, in line with the government's ambition to massively create jobs for the Togolese people. The Kara-based steel producer intends to double its initial projections (400 direct jobs and 800 indirect jobs). 

The plant, which runs on  40,000 t of raw material per year, was recently visited by the minister of trade, industry, and local consumption during a tour in the Northern region.

The steel plant was commissioned about two years ago by President Faure Gnassingbé, “in line with a strategy of the National Development Plan (PND) that prioritizes processing and industrialization. The establishment of the SCT in the free-trade area materializes the great vision we share”, said Kodjo Adedze. 

Indian capital reported that more than CFA4 billion was mobilized for its development. At the time it was launched, the facility aimed to produce every day 30,000 t of iron rods and sticks, using 150 tonnes of scraps.

Séna Akoda

The construction of Kara market which started in September 2016, has reached a completion rate of 86.67%. 

The progress was observed last Monday by the Minister of trade, industry, and local consumption, Kodzo Adedze. The official visited the project’s site for this purpose. 

According to the Minister, companies in charge of “building the market should speed up works to deliver the market within a short and reasonable period, given that it will greatly contribute to the recovery of the Togolese economy”. 

The market, a three-story building (ground floor and two upper floors), will cost CFA4 billion to build. 

It is worthy to note that the construction of the Kara market is part of the Kara and Lome Markets Reconstruction and Traders Support Project (PARMCO). The latter, financed by the AfDB, aims at helping traders who suffered losses amidst the fires that hit the markets of Lomé and Kara in 2013. 

Klétus Situ (intern)

On February 8, a 10-day workshop was launched in Kara for the elaboration of the 2021 citizen budget. Experts from the ministry of economy and finance, representatives of civil society organizations, and sectoral ministries are gathered at the event. 

The citizen budget is a tool that will shed light on data related to key sectors, which will be made available to the public. The sectors in scope include ; health, education, agriculture, transport and grassroots development. 

“Every citizen, who contributes to the financing of the State budget, must be informed of what is being done, of the mobilization of resources at the level of the public utilities...and it is this information that we plan on primarily providing them”, said Djamena Atama, Coordinator of the Economic Governance Support Project (PAGE). The World Bank-financed project backs the ongoing workshop. 

In line with these developmemnts, participants will discuss resources the State plans to mobilize this year, and how they will distributed, especially within the framework of the National Development Plan (PND). 

The initiative should, in the long run, enhance the management of public resources, the mobilization of internal revenues, and boost officials’ responsibility. 

It is worthy of note, that this is the second edition of the Citizen Budget Initiative. The maiden edition was held in 2020.