Togo First
Lomé Airport Sees Slight 1.2% Rise in Passenger Traffic in Q1 2025
Gnassingbé Eyadema International Airport (AIGE) in Lomé handled 329,618 passengers in the first quarter of 2025, according to figures released on June 18 in the quarterly budget execution report. The marks a 1.2% increase from the same period in 2024, when the airport registered 325,709 travelers.
Although modest, this growth continues the upward trend recorded in recent years at Togo’s main air hub. It aligns with the country’s broader goal of positioning Lomé as a major logistics and aviation center in West Africa.
In 2024, annual traffic at AIGE reached 1,506,946 passengers, reflecting a 6.2% rise over the previous year, which had seen about 1.4 million travelers.
The steady climb in passenger numbers is partly due to network expansion by key partner airlines. Lomé-based Asky Airlines has played a central role. Since July 2024, the carrier has added more flights between Lomé and Abidjan and reopened its route to Pointe-Noire in Congo in October.
Six new routes were introduced in 2023, including four by Asky Airlines and two by Ethiopian Airlines. Ethiopian Airlines’ direct Lomé–Washington flight, which began in June 2022, also continues to drive growth by enhancing transcontinental connectivity.
As traffic grows, Togolese authorities are preparing to increase the airport’s capacity to handle higher volumes. The government has set a medium-term target of 2 million passengers per year, with infrastructure upgrades expected to support that goal.
This latest quarter’s numbers reflect steady progress on that path, as Lomé strengthens its role in regional and international air transport.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo Launches Fuel Customs Reform July 1st to Enhance Traceability
Effective July 1, 2025, Togo will implement a new regulatory measure to strengthen customs oversight of petroleum products. Starting on that date, every fuel truck departing from either Société Togolaise d'Entreposage (STE) or Société Togolaise des Stockages de Lomé (STSL)’s terminals must submit a detailed customs declaration before leaving the facility.
The Togolese Revenue Office (OTR) made the announcement, stating that this reform aims to enhance monitoring of customs operations involving hydrocarbons. It also seeks to improve the traceability of fuel flow through the Sydonia World digital platform.
In practical terms, STE and STSL must submit detailed declarations to the Division of Customs Operations for Hydrocarbons and Refining (DODH-R), a specialized branch of the OTR, before loading. This division will be responsible for monitoring, clearing, and administratively processing all transactions related to petroleum products.
The measure is part of a broader effort to improve fiscal governance and transparency in logistics. Authorities indicate it is designed to ensure more accurate tracking of product entries and exits, and to prevent discrepancies between declared quantities and those actually delivered to the market.
This reform coincides with the government's announcement of a fuel marking initiative, which aims to combat fraud and parallel distribution networks.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo Moves to Upgrade National Soil Data Platform FertiTogo
Togo’s agricultural leaders are pushing to modernize FertiTogo, the country’s national soil information platform. A high-level workshop in Lomé runs through June 19, 2025, gathering government officials, international experts, and technical partners.
Their mission: craft a bold roadmap to boost FertiTogo’s performance, inclusivity, and alignment with global soil information system standards.
FertiTogo relies on soil fertility data collected from 2017 to 2020. It provides farmers and agribusinesses with easy access to vital soil data that can raise crop yields and improve farming methods. The platform acts as a critical tool in Togo’s push for sustainable agriculture and food security.
At the workshop, the government plans to adopt cutting-edge digital technologies, secure reliable hosting, and ensure the platform’s financial sustainability. This effort enjoys strong backing from major international players, including the International Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences (CABI), the International Soil Reference and Information Centre (ISRIC), and the regional hub focused on fertilizers and soil health in West Africa and the Sahel.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo Opens Modern Toll Station on National Road 2 Starting June 19
Togo opens a new modern toll station on National Road 2 near Aného today, June 19. The Ministry of Transport announced the completion of construction and equipment last Tuesday.
The government will move toll collection from a temporary site in Vodougbé to this new station about 40 kilometers from Lomé.
This toll station is part of the RN2 rehabilitation effort. It joins other toll points to boost the capacity of SAFER, the agency responsible for funding road maintenance and improvements.
Togo’s road maintenance budget will shrink by 20% in 2025, dropping from CFA16.5 billion in 2024 to CFA13.3 billion.
Golfe 1 Municipality Reviews Six Years of Progress in Public Accountability Day
Golfe 1 municipality in Bè-Apédomé held its Public Accountability Day on June 17, 2025, following the country’s decentralization law. Minister-Mayor Joseph Koamy Gomado delivered a detailed report on six years of local governance.
Since 2019, the municipality has deployed over 220 agents across its six sectors to strengthen administrative decentralization. The town hall plans to build a new four-story city hall. It has already completed key projects: renovating schools, building an ophthalmology center in Bè, opening a dispensary in Klobatèmé, and modernizing the local market.
The municipality also supports economic inclusion through microcredit programs, student aid, and youth initiatives. Looking ahead, it funds a CFA80 million study to turn the Bè lagoon into a standout urban space.
Minister-Mayor Gomado praised the council’s efforts. “Despite ongoing challenges, we have achieved some objectives. These results are promising,” he said.
Golfe 1, also known as Bè-Est, covers 60.66 km² and is home to nearly 500,000 people. With 36 neighborhoods and a coastal frontage, it ranks among the most populous and significant municipalities in Greater Lomé.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo Launches Competition to Train Next Generation of Insurance Technicians
The Togolese Ministry of Economy and Finance recently kicked off an international competition to enroll students at the Professional Training Center in Insurance (CPFA) of the International Insurance Institute (IIA).
The contest targets candidates from 15 African countries, including Togo, to form the 27th cohort (2025–2027) for the Diploma of Insurance Technician (DT-A).
Togolese applicants must submit their files by June 27, 2025, to the Insurance Directorate at CASEF. The selection process includes two tests: a French language and general knowledge exam, followed by a technical test in one of these fields—law, economics, insurance, mathematics, or statistics.
This drive aims to professionalize the insurance sector, a key pillar for financial stability and economic growth across West Africa. Building local expertise will help the region’s insurance market expand and thrive.
The International Insurance Institute, headquartered in Yaoundé, stands as a premier pan-African training center. Established in 1976 under the CIMA framework, the IIA has spent nearly five decades preparing technicians and senior managers for insurance firms, regulators, and intermediaries.
For more details, check the full call for applications here.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo: Government Encourages Businesses to Attend Next Intra-African Trade Fair in Algiers
Togo will join the fourth Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025) from September 4 to 10, 2025, in Algiers, Algeria. The Ministry of Commerce and Handicrafts urges Togolese businesses to register and take part in this key event promoting trade within Africa.
Afreximbank organizes the fair with the African Union and the AfCFTA Secretariat. The event follows the 2018 ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement and aims to be a top pan-African trade platform.
Togo plans to showcase its strengths in agro-industry, logistics, textiles, and handicrafts. The fair will help attract investments and open new markets as South-South trade grows.
Companies interested in participating should contact CETEF-Togo 2000, the national coordinator.
Faure Gnassingbé Opens Star Garments Factory at Adétikopé
Togo’s President of the Council, Faure Gnassingbé, officially inaugurated the Star Garments Togo textile factory, part of the Komar Group. The ceremony took place at the Adétikopé Industrial Platform (PIA) and gathered institutional figures, PIA officials, private sector leaders, and technical and financial partners.
“Backed by over 40 years of textile expertise, Star Garments chose Togo as its first location outside Sri Lanka—an important signal for our country and a strong vote of confidence in our industrial vision,” said Minister Manuella Santos during the inauguration.
The new plant covers 3.7 hectares and is expected to create 2,000 direct jobs in 2025, more than 60 % of which will go to women. The longer-term goal is to generate 4,520 direct and indirect jobs by 2030. The facility includes cutting, sewing, and finishing operations and is designed to meet the group’s global environmental standards, in line with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification applied at other Komar sites worldwide.
“This is more than just a factory. It represents a long-term commitment—Komar’s commitment to the people of Togo—for jobs, training, and elevating global production standards based on dignity and excellence,” said Charlie Komar, CEO of U.S.-based conglomerate Charles Komar & Sons.
“The choice of Togo is no coincidence. We chose this country because we see a rising nation, a government focused on economic stability, infrastructure development, and investment appeal,” he added.
Faure Gnassingbé personally cut the ceremonial ribbon alongside Charlie Komar before touring the industrial facilities.
The Star Garments project is supported by a $15 million investment (around CFA9 billion) from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and represents one of the most recent additions to the PIA.
Founded in 1978 in Sri Lanka, Star Garments is a subsidiary of Charles Komar & Sons, a leading American apparel group. Star Garments is the world’s first carbon-neutral clothing manufacturer and specializes in nightwear, loungewear, and layered garments distributed under more than 100 brands across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other international markets.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo Accelerates Energy Shift with 400 MW Solar Project
Togo is preparing to launch an ambitious 400-megawatt (MW) solar energy development project as part of its strategy to achieve universal access to electricity by 2030.
Last week, a technical workshop was held in Lomé to design the competitive process for the project’s implementation. The meeting gathered key energy sector stakeholders, including public authorities, regulatory agencies, the Togo Electric Power Company (CEET), and several technical and financial partners. Among them was RELP, a firm specializing in renewable energy promotion, which is supporting Togo in boosting its solar energy production and storage capacities.
Discussions at the workshop focused on defining a transparent and attractive framework for project allocation, validating a detailed implementation plan, assessing risks, and integrating market expectations. The primary goal is to ensure the program's technical and financial feasibility while upholding sound governance. This initiative also aims to stimulate private investment, create green jobs, and promote local content across the solar value chain.
The workshop follows a risk assessment survey on competitive public procurement in the photovoltaic solar sector, which began earlier this month. The 400 MW project aligns with Togo’s national commitments to energy transition and sustainable development. It is expected to strengthen the nation's energy autonomy, diversify its energy mix, and reduce its reliance on imports and fossil fuels.
Lomé Hosts West Africa Workshop to Tackle Agricultural Risks
Lomé is hosting a major regional workshop focused on managing agricultural risks in West Africa. The event started on June 16 and ends on June 20. It is organized by the ECOWAS Commission, Togo’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Water, and the Platform for Agricultural Risk Management (PARM).
The workshop aims to draw a regional program to help farmers withstand shocks such as droughts, floods, price spikes, diseases, and political unrest. It is worth noting that agriculture employs over 60% of West Africa’s workforce and contributes 35% to the regional economy.
ECOWAS Commissioner Massandjé Touré-Litsé opened the event by warning that “every drought, flood, price spike, or disease wipes away months or years of effort, threatening families, rural economies, and sometimes social peace.” She then urged leaders to “turn risks into opportunities” with bold agricultural policies.
Expanding the Partnership
The program builds on 10 years of ECOWAS-PARM collaboration. After pilot projects in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger, and Senegal, the partners plan to expand the effort to all ECOWAS states through a regional facility aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr. Emmanuel Koffi GLE of ECOWAS said, “ECOWAS Commission, in strategic partnership with PARM, decided to support our member states in managing agricultural risks and help integrate this issue into our policies.”
The workshop brings together experts, agriculture ministries, insurers, financial institutions, and farmers’ groups. They will identify top risks by country, share lessons, and develop solutions like crop insurance and climate-smart innovations.
More than 34 million people in West Africa face food insecurity, underscoring the urgency.