The Togolese Parliament approved a major reform of the Togolese Revenue Office (OTR) on March 25, 2025. The Ministry of Economy and Finance introduced the new law, which redefines the OTR’s institutional structure by abolishing the supervisory board, reducing the number of directors, simplifying manager appointment procedures, and strengthening oversight by supervisory ministries.

The reform expands the OTR’s mandate to improve revenue mobilization and streamline tax management. It emphasizes economies of scale and tighter controls through the Inspectorate General of State and the Inspectorate General of Finance.

The government announced this reform months earlier by adopting a bill to initiate these changes. Parliament also passed a second text revising the legal framework for public companies, replacing a 35-year-old law. This update aligns with OHADA benchmarks and aims to enhance the economic and managerial performance of public entities.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togo secured CFA20 billion from the West African Development Bank (BOAD) to build and run the Lomé ministerial complex. Société de Construction de la Cité Ministérielle (SOCOCIM SAU) will lead this project.

The complex will include 18 administrative buildings, consisting of 8 towers ranging from R+8 to R+13 and 10 R+2 buildings. This initiative aims to modernize Togo's administrative system by consolidating ministerial departments into one location in Lomé.

BOAD projects that the construction phase will create over 1,000 jobs and generate an indirect added value of CFA11.6 billion annually. The complex will span 90,000 m² in Bè-Klévé, Golfe 3 commune, and feature offices, housing, shops, hotels, leisure areas, green spaces, and cultural zones.

The project has been in the pipeline for years, with preparations started in September 2022 and initial discussions in 2021.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togo secured CFA40 billion from the West African Development Bank (BOAD) to address urgent energy sector needs, including unpaid electricity bills. BOAD announced this financing during its 145th Board of Directors meeting held on March 26, 2025, in Lomé.

This funding aims to ensure the continuity of public electricity services amid regional supply disruptions, particularly from Nigeria. Compagnie Énergie Électrique du Togo (CEET), Togo’s power utility, has struggled with financial difficulties for years. In 2020, BOAD provided CFA25 billion to CEET for similar purposes.

The Togolese government has implemented structural reforms within CEET to restore financial stability, improve governance, and achieve universal electricity coverage by 2030. By 2022, CEET relied on imported electricity for 52.27% of its supply, mainly from Ghana and Nigeria, while local sources like ContourGlobal, Kekeli Efficient Power, AMEA Solar, and Nangbéto contributed 47.73%.

This article was initially written in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

Last week, over 100 students, researchers, and teachers in Lomé learned to use MOSAIKS, a cutting-edge spatial data analysis tool developed by UC Berkeley and UC Santa Barbara. Togo Data Lab organized the workshop on March 22, with support from ProDigiT (GIZ Togo), aiming to democratize artificial intelligence applied to satellite imagery.

MOSAIKS transforms satellite images into actionable indicators that users can process on a laptop without advanced image processing skills. Participants explored practical applications in agriculture, geography, and environmental monitoring during case studies.

Komlan Agbo, a geography doctoral student, said, “This tool opens up unprecedented prospects for applied development research.” Togo Data Lab plans to expand training access and strengthen technical support for local researchers. The ultimate goal is to equip Togolese human capital for smarter decision-making based on reliable data.

This article was initially written in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

Togo has digitized the registration process for the Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship (CFA) exam and diploma issuance. Citizens can now access these services on the government portal, service-public.gouv.tg. Minister Isaac Tchiakpé officially launched the initiative in Lomé on March 25, 2025.

The Ministry of Trade, Crafts and Local Consumption teamed up with the Ministry of Technical Education, Vocational Training, and Apprenticeships to create this platform, with technical support from Agence Togo Digital (ATD). The move responds to artisans’ demands for faster and simpler procedures.

The new digital system aims to streamline administrative tasks and speed up diploma delivery. The Department of Examinations, Competitive Examinations, and Certification (DECC) will now issue diplomas within six months after results are announced, cutting waiting times for candidates.

Minister Tchiakpé emphasized the government’s commitment to modernizing public services, saying: “This platform aligns with our roadmap and the Head of State’s vision to make digitalization central to Togo’s development strategy. It improves access to services and simplifies citizens’ lives.”

The Togolese government plans to digitize 75% of administrative processes by the end of 2025.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

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An International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) delegation visited Lomé from March 17 to 21. They came to assess advancements on the ProMIFA, Project to the Incentive Mechanism for Agricultural Financing based on Risk Sharing (ProMIFA). The visit addressed recommendations from the July 2024 supervision mission.

Xavier Desmoulins led the delegation, discussing the project's recovery and improvement plan with Togolese authorities. Discussions highlighted obstacles and produced recommendations for better efficiency. The mission reviewed ProMIFA's 2025 Annual Work Plan and Budget. 

Launched in February 2020, the ProMIFA helps smallholders and agricultural enterprises access financial services. It aims to help them grow and enter markets. IFAD supports the project, using a risk-sharing approach to boost agricultural financing. This approach is considered key for growth and poverty reduction in Togo.

Esaïe Edoh

Togo has recently confirmed H5N1 bird flu cases on three poultry farms in Adjengré, Anyron Kopé, and Kouloumde. The government responded with emergency measures to stop the virus and reduce economic damage.

Around 6,500 birds were affected across a modern farm in Adjengré and a traditional farm in Kouloumde. General Yark Damehame, Minister for Animal Resources, ordered the culling of infected birds, disinfection of farms, a ban on poultry movement, and the closure of markets and feed mills in affected areas for one month.

The government promised compensation for breeders based on current rates to help them recover and sustain the poultry industry. The Ministry urged breeders and traders to follow these rules strictly. Officials emphasized that vigilance is critical to protect public health and ensure the long-term survival of Togo’s poultry sector.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English byOla Schad Akinocho

Togo's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 6.3% in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. According to the National Institute of Statistics, INSEED, which reported the data, the surge is weaker than the two previous quarters. In Q1 and Q2 2024, Togo’s GDP was up by 14.5% and 12.5% year-on-year, respectively.

According to the INSEED, Q3’s growth was mainly driven by the primary and secondary sectors. They expanded by 10.7% and 21.1%, respectively.

Agricultural Sector

In the primary sector, agriculture, livestock, hunting, and forestry grew by 10.4%, accounting for 98% of the sector's value added. However, fishing declined sharply by 29% due to scarce fish stocks.

Extractive Industries Boom

The secondary sector experienced significant growth in mining and quarrying (+209.5%), food processing (+36.7%), beverages (+21.9%), building materials (+27.8%), and metal products (+30.1%). Construction, however, continued to decline by 16.8%.

Timid Service Sector

The tertiary sector, which accounts for over half of Togo's economy, posted modest growth of 0.8%. While trade, financial services, and leisure activities performed well, declines in public services, including education (-13%) and administration (-24.4%), offset these gains.

By 2024, Togo's GDP was estimated at CFA5,900 billion ($9.8 billion), according to the World Bank.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

Togo and Singapore signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on March 23, 2025, to enhance bilateral cooperation. The agreement was signed by Togolese and Singaporean Foreign Ministers, Robert Dussey and Vivian Balakrishnan, respectively.  Besides bolstering ties between both sides, the deal should foster investment and industrial development in Togo.

Singapore and Togo have been diplomatic partners for several years. The recent deal aligns with previous commitments, including visa exemptions and diplomatic consultation protocols.

On the investment front, the two countries have been collaborating since 2010 through an economic and technical partnership agreement. This enabled many Singaporean firms, such as Olam, Wafo, GUUD, Strafor, and PIL, to come to Togo. The new deal consolidates existing cooperation and paves the way for new economic and industrial opportunities.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

The National Employment Agency of Togo (ANPE) launched a vocational training course in driving and repairing agricultural tractors on March 20, 2025. Participants-100 in total-come from all five Togolese regions.

For this program, the ANPE collaborates with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Institut National de Formation Agricole (INFA) in Tové. The enrolled students, divided into two groups, will be trained for two to three months in Kara and Tové. Organizers seek to have them operational by the 2025 agricultural season.

"The aim is to meet a critical need in the agricultural production chain: the lack of mechanization skills," stresses ANPE Managing Director Kossi Tsiglo. 

At the INFA in Tové, learners acquire practical skills in operating, maintaining, and repairing tractors and power tillers, according to Dr. Métang Bamazé, Director of the Institute.