The National Health Insurance Institute (INAM) is looking to acquire a system to manufacture secure cards for its customers. 

In this framework, it reached out to seven firms that will be competing to win the related contract. The firms are Semoa, Teolis, Surys, Snedai, Imprimerie de France, Thales Gemalto, and In Group-Selp. They have until July 8, 2020, to submit their respective bids. 

Having a system that manufactures secure cards for its customers should improve the quality of its services and help better tackle fraud.

The project will be financed by the institution itself, under its 2020 budget. 

Séna Akoda

In markets of the Lomé-commune and Agoè-Asiyeye, booth fees were halved on June 8, 2020. This was revealed by an official statement. 

By taking this step, the government supports sellers who are strongly impacted by the drop in demand driven by the Covid-19 pandemic. It should be effective over the next three months.

The price cut adds to social and economic incentives taken by public policies in support of businesses (suspension of tax control and relaxation of tax collection operations for SMEs and SMIs). 

Let’s recall that in Togo, the turnover of more than 92% of registered businesses slumped in February-March 2020. In detail, more than one-third of private businesses recorded a 75% reduction in their earnings, according to a recent study carried out by the Togolese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIT).

In Togo, now that the curfew is lifted, vehicles can restart circulating normally across the country. The decision was announced on June 9, 2020, after a meeting between the Togolese ministers of transport and security, Zourehatou Kassah-Traoré and Général Yark Damehane. 

Still, authorities maintain safe measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Among the latter is the need to wear face masks for all citizens, and the limited number of passengers boarding public transportation vehicles such as coaches, small buses, and taxis. For the coaches, the number of passengers cannot exceed 30. For 15-seat buses, the number of passengers allowed is 8 (including the driver), while taxi drivers can take no more than three passengers. 

Concerning transport fees, they have not changed, the government emphasized. 

Séna Akoda

On June 8, 2020, Togo and France, via the French Development Agency (AFD), inked two financing agreements worth a total of €40.7 million. 

According to the Togolese minister of finance, Sani Yaya, the agreements will “support the government’s strong initiatives relative to water and sanitization in Togo.”

In detail, the first which is for a €40 million (XOF26.2 billion) concessional loan will help implement a program that is aimed at improving access to drinking water in the Savanes region; it will benefit 200,000 people. This project is divided into four parts: Supplying clean water in Cinkassé, Korbongou, Bombouaka, Mandouri, Tandjoaré, Gando, and expanding the water network of Dapaong, starting from the Dalwak dam. Next is supplying clean water to six other semi-urban areas, rehabilitation, and expanding water systems of towns located in the perimeter of the TdE (water utility); proceed to strategic studies associated with the roadmap for supplying drinking water in the Grand Lomé area. The last part concerns an in-depth assessment of the new water supply system in Kara. 

Regarding the second agreement, the related facility amounts to €700,000 (XOF459.17 million). The funds will serve to actualize the master plan for the treatment of wastewater and stormwater in the Grand Lomé area (PDA2004). This project is steered by the Fonds de la Facilité d’Amorçage, de Préparation et de Suivi de Projets (FAPS).

Let’s emphasize that the AFD has so far invested more than €108 million in projects focused on sanitation and improving access to drinking water in Togo. This includes the two agreements signed recently.  

Séna Akoda

Until June 30, 2020, Togolese SMEs and SMIs can apply to the big contest launched by the country’s ministry of trade, in partnership with the International Federation of consular chambers for Africa (FICA). The contest aims at enabling innovative businesses to access new outlets across the globe. 

Selected startups will attend the 2020 Annual Investment Meeting in Dubaï. Eligible firms must have an annual turnover ranging between $100,000 and $1,000,000, less than 50 employees, must be running operations for two to seven years, and must have previously successfully organized fundraising. 

During the event, participants will be able to showcase their products and services to more than 1,500 commercial partners, clients, and investors coming from more than 140 countries. 

Application forms are available on www.commerce.gouv.tg and www.aimcongress.com.

Séna Akoda

Started in September 2018, talks between ACP countries (Africa-Caribbean-Pacific) and the European Union (EU) are entering their last phase. 

Indeed the two parties commenced yesterday in Brussels, technical discussions ahead of negotiations which will take place next Friday. The Talks will focus on political issues, such as the right to sexuality, abolition of the death penalty, or the financing of the African civil society by the EU. 

The talks which were slowed due to the Covid-19 should end in the coming weeks. The Cotonou Partnership Agreement between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific countries will expire at the end of December 2020 (against February 2020 as planned initially). The agreement regroups 79 ACP States, the EU Member States, and around 1.5 billion people.

From 19,700 tons in 2018, exports of organic soybeans from Togo to the European Union (EU) were at 42,300 tons (+115%) in 2019, a recent report revealed. 

This makes Togo the largest exporter of the crop to the Old continent, before China (28,200 t) and India (21,600 t). In Africa, Uganda was the next biggest exporter of organic soybeans to the EU in 2019 with 2,300 t shipped; it is the 7th worldwide. 

Soybeans, most produced organic product in Togo

Soybeans is the most produced organic product in Togo and around 300,000 people work in this sector. It made up nearly 95% of Togo’s organic foods exports to the EU in 2019 (which totalled 44,684 t). 

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Last Friday, Togo raised XOF 26.31 billion for its latest fungible treasury bonds on the regional financial market. Out of this sum, the country retains XOF21.8 billion. 

According to the UMOA securities agency, “the operation aligns with Togo’s public securities issuance program in line with its medium and long term debt management strategy.” 

The amount mobilized corresponds to a coverage rate of 131.5% since Lomé was initially seeking XOF20 billion. The bonds in question will mature over a year. 

Séna Akoda

Between 2018 and 2019, Togo doubled its exports of organic foods to the European Union. From 22,000 tons, the latter rose by 102% over the period to reach almost 45,000 tons. 

This makes the country the second-largest exporter of these products to the EU in Africa (Egypt is first). Worldwide, it is the 14th (against 31st in 2018). 

In the ECOWAS region, Togo is first ahead of Côte d’Ivoire (23,503 t), Ghana (20,318 t), Burkina Faso (13,312 t), Senegal (4,765 t), Benin (2,081 t), Niger (640 t), and Nigeria (289 t). 

It should be noted that overall, EU’s imports of organic food products were somehow stable between 2018 and 2019 (3.24 million tons). However, the demand for tropical fruits and soybeans rose; a situation that benefited Togo. 

In Togo, more than 36,000 farmers practice organic farming. This is about 4.83% of African producers in the sector. 

Ayi Renaud Dossavi