Togo First
Togo Industrial Production Rises 8.1% in Q3 2025 on Extractive Rebound
Industrial activity in Togo increased by 8.1% in the third quarter of 2025 compared to the previous quarter, driven by the extractive and manufacturing industries, according to the Regional Economic Outlook Note for the WAEMU published in December 2025.
Economists state this progression is primarily explained by the strong recovery of extractive activities, where production jumped by 50.9% from one quarter to the next. The manufacturing industry also contributed to the momentum with a 3.5% increase. This growth was supported by agrifood production, which rose by 11.6%, and by the processing of petroleum products, which increased by 5.8%.
In contrast, electricity production limited the overall momentum of the industrial sector with a contraction of 11.0%.
The positive trend is generally maintained compared to the previous year. On a year-on-year basis, industrial production recorded growth of 6.2% in the third quarter of 2025.
In Togo, the extractive sector is largely dominated by mining, particularly three minerals: phosphates, limestone, and clinker. These minerals concentrate the bulk of the volumes produced and structure the activity of the sector.
Cumulative industrial activity increased by 11.7% at the end of September 2025.
R.E.D
AFD Funding, Trade and Investment: The Pillars of France-Togo Cooperation
Economic and financial cooperation between Togo and France remains strong, French officials said on Friday, Jan. 23, at a press briefing in Lomé.
The briefing was attended by France’s ambassador to Togo, Augustin Favereau, and Benjamin Neumann, the new director of the French Development Agency (AFD) in the country.
The partnership is underpinned by AFD funding as well as trade and investment ties. According to figures released, AFD, France’s main development finance agency in Africa, has invested more than 450 million euros in Togo, including around 80 million euros in grants. The financing has been channelled into 18 projects across the country.
AFD’s portfolio in Togo
AFD’s portfolio in Togo is made up mainly of concessional loans, Neumann said. New commitments average around 40 million euros a year.
The funding is directed toward projects prioritised by Togolese authorities, particularly in water and sanitation, agriculture and energy.
AFD said the financing aims to expand access to essential public services while supporting structural investment in key sectors of the economy. Grants, which now represent a smaller share of the portfolio, are used mainly for feasibility studies, technical assistance and projects with a strong social component, the official said.
They also help prepare larger investment programmes and support institutional reforms.
Franco-Togolese cooperation
Franco-Togolese cooperation has previously been discussed at the highest level. “Togo displays an economic trajectory that offers many opportunities and I am truly eager to strengthen the economic partnership with France,” President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé said after a working lunch at the Élysée Palace on April 9, 2021.
He said at the time that both sides wanted to consolidate the bilateral relationship.
Economic cooperation between Togo and France goes beyond development financing and is also built on long-standing trade ties and investment, said Jérôme Froute, the economic counsellor at the French Embassy in Togo.
He said the momentum fits into a “renewed economic partnership” promoted by President Emmanuel Macron in his annual address to ambassadors on Jan. 8, 2026, at the Élysée Palace. In that speech, Macron called for a stronger push by French companies in Africa, urging increased investment and deeper trade ties amid intense competition.
According to the latest available data, trade between Togo and France reached nearly 268 million euros, or around 176 billion CFA francs, in 2023.
With 225 million euros, or about 148 billion CFA francs, in exports to Togo, France held a market share of 9.3%, making it the country’s second-largest supplier behind China at 19.6% and ahead of India at 8.2%.
Around 40 French company subsidiaries operating in Togo posted combined revenue of more than 570 million euros, more than one billion dollars, or roughly 370 billion CFA francs, and employed more than 3,000 people, excluding micro, small and medium-sized service providers.
The companies operate across several sectors, including logistics, construction, energy, agribusiness and services.
French exports to Togo have remained strong, but French purchases of Togolese products stood at around 42.9 million euros, or 28 billion CFA francs, in 2023. Imports were mainly agricultural goods, particularly cereals, legumes and oilseeds. France ranked as Togo’s sixth-largest customer, with an estimated market share of 6.5%.
Fiacre E. Kakpo
Togo reshuffles cabinet, names Loukou-Kadjé at transport and recalls Tengue to maritime economy
Togo’s President of the Council, Faure Gnassingbé, has appointed two new ministers as part of an adjustment to the government’s structure. Under a decree signed on January 23, 2026, Komlan Loukou-Kadjé was named minister of transport, opening up, and rural roads. The portfolio had previously been directly attached to the Presidency of the Council.
Loukou-Kadjé, a civil engineer specializing in roads and bridges, returns to government. He previously served as minister of public works and transport after his appointment in February 2009.
The same decree also brought Edem Kokou Tengue back into the government as minister delegate to the minister of transport, in charge of the maritime economy. The portfolio is a familiar one for Tengue, who holds a doctorate in economics and previously led Maersk Togo. He oversaw the maritime economy between 2020 and 2024 before most recently serving as minister-counselor at the Presidency of the Council.
The creation of a full-fledged ministry dedicated to transport is intended to strengthen coordination of public investment in road networks and domestic mobility. The move comes amid growing infrastructure needs and efforts to improve access to rural areas.
For the maritime economy, Tengue’s return signals strategic continuity. The sector remains a pillar of Togo’s economy, driven by the Port of Lomé, which is seeking to consolidate its position amid rising regional competition. In 2024, the port handled about 2.06 million TEUs, up 8% from a year earlier, and continues to rank among Africa’s top-performing ports in international benchmarks.
With these new appointments, Togo’s executive branch now counts 29 members. The cabinet includes 18 full ministers and 11 ministers delegate.
R.E.D.
Togo Launches First Comedy Training School in Aného
A comedy training school opened on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Aného. Named “L’École du rire à Aného”, it will offer courses in creative development, comedy techniques, stage practice and career training for comedians.
The school is the first of its kind in Togo. It is run by the Aquéréburu and Partners Foundation, in partnership with the Lacs 1 commune. Organisers say the project aims to help develop Togolese and African comedic talent through structured training, mentoring and live performances.
The school will train young comedians in basic and advanced comedy skills, while helping them improve writing, performance and stage direction. Students will also receive guidance to develop their comedic voice and build professional careers, including access to performance venues and festivals. The project also plans to host regular comedy shows in Aného.
Lawson Latévi Jeff, executive director of the Aquéréburu and Partners Foundation, said the aim is to use humour as a tool for cultural expression, social cohesion, civic awareness and job creation for young people.
The initiative is part of the momentum generated by the Festival International d’Histoire d’Aného (FIHA), which promotes the city’s cultural heritage. Aného served as Togo’s capital before independence.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo Delivers Electric Vehicles To Environment Ministry, Golfe 3 Municipality
Togo’s national electric mobility strategy, launched in 2025, has entered a new phase of implementation. The Ministry of Environment and the Golfe 3 municipality took delivery of electric vehicles in Lomé on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The vehicles were provided to the two recipient administrations to support public authorities’ environmental protection efforts, notably by reducing emissions linked to official travel. Two electric cars, with an estimated value of 64 million CFA francs, were allocated.
The integration of these vehicles into the public fleet marks a new step in the national policy to promote greener mobility. “Introducing these vehicles into the fleets of these two institutions will significantly reduce fuel consumption and help lower energy costs,” said Binta Sanneh, UNDP resident representative in Togo.
UNDP said it hopes to attract additional technical and financial partners to support the expansion of the electric vehicle fleet in Togo. “Electric mobility is now taking shape in Togo. UNDP has chosen to support the government through the acquisition of these vehicles, with the aim of making the country a pilot model for electric mobility,” said Dimouzou Koffi Aoufoh, secretary general of the Ministry of Environment.
The initiative comes as sustained population growth and a steady increase in the vehicle fleet are worsening environmental challenges, particularly air pollution. The large share of used vehicles, often old and more polluting, also contributes to rising emissions.
In response, Togolese authorities are stepping up initiatives across the country to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The national electric mobility strategy, launched in 2025 and backed by several partners including UNDP, is one of the key pillars of this energy transition.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo Tax Authority Briefs Businesses On Key 2026 Budget Measures
The Togolese Revenue Authority (OTR) on Jan. 22 launched a nationwide outreach campaign to brief taxpayers on the 2026 finance law, starting in Lomé. The campaign aims to help businesses understand key measures in the budget passed in late December.
The 2026 budget totals 2,751.5 billion CFA francs, with tax revenue projected at 1,338.86 billion CFA francs. OTR says the initiative is meant to clarify current tax measures and support implementation.
“The finance law reflects many concerns raised during stakeholder consultations,” said Konlani Kampatibe, OTR’s director of communications and user services. He said the campaign is intended to be educational.
The authority said 11 existing tax measures have been renewed, including the African Union levy and a 50% cut in customs duties on diesel used for industrial machinery and off-road equipment. The measures also include a suspension of the motor vehicle tax for commercial transport operators.
New provisions include a tax on gambling winnings above 500,000 CFA francs, with a 5% withholding tax. The timeframe used to define a permanent establishment has also been shortened to three months from six.
OTR said the annual campaign aims to strengthen cooperation with taxpayers and improve revenue collection, which it described as crucial to meeting budget targets.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo’s Mining Output Led by Phosphates as Revenues Remain Concentrated
Mining output in Togo was driven by three commodities in 2023: phosphates (1.52 million tonnes), limestone (2.94 million tonnes) and clinker (1.31 million tonnes). According to the 2023 Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) report, these three minerals accounted for most production volumes and underpinned the country’s mining activity during the year.
A review of payments to the state treasury points to diverging trends between 2022 and 2023, shaped by shifts in output volumes and a heavy concentration of fiscal revenues among a small number of key players.
Output dominated by phosphates, clinker and limestone
Phosphates remained the dominant mineral in Togo’s mining output and exports. Production totalled 1.52 million tonnes in 2023, slightly down from 1.54 million tonnes in 2022. The EITI report values 2022 phosphate output at 185.9 billion CFA francs, but no figure was published for 2023.
Limestone volumes declined from 3.17 million tonnes in 2022 to 2.94 million tonnes in 2023. Its 2022 output was valued at 17.7 billion CFA francs. Clinker production reached 1.31 million tonnes, while migmatite output stood at 339,277 cubic metres.
Other minerals posted mixed trends. Clay output rose to 426,790 tonnes in 2023 from 393,341 tonnes in 2022. Gneiss fell sharply to 44,764 tonnes, compared with 285,558 tonnes a year earlier. Dolomite rose by nearly 30%, increasing from 78,848 tonnes to 101,265 tonnes over the period.
Reported output also included sand (21,472 tonnes) and crushed marble (1,730 tonnes). For several minerals, no value figures were disclosed, limiting an assessment of their economic contribution.
Mining revenues heavily concentrated
Total mining-sector revenues reported in 2023 amounted to 119.4 billion CFA francs. The bulk of payments came from Société Nouvelle des Phosphates du Togo (SNPT), which contributed 106.8 billion CFA francs, or 89.47% of the total.
These revenues were mainly made up of mining royalties, corporate income tax, and customs duties and taxes.
Limited diversification beyond SNPT
After SNPT, Scantogo Mines contributed 9.0 billion CFA francs in 2023, followed by WACEM with 878 million CFA francs. Other operators reported only minor payments.
Mining royalties accounted for 37.98% of revenues, driven largely by phosphates and SNPT, at 43.5 billion CFA francs in 2023. Customs duties and taxes represented 23.34%, while corporate income tax made up 18.58%. Dividends contributed 8.55% of mining revenues paid into the treasury, according to the EITI.
Overall, Togo’s extractive sector generated about 124.25 billion CFA francs in 2023, almost entirely driven by mining, which contributed 123.18 billion CFA francs. By comparison, the water sector, mainly operated by TdE and included in the EITI scope, generated 1.07 billion CFA francs over the period.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo Allocated 1.8 Billion CFA Francs to Support Vulnerable Groups in 2025
Togo’s social action policy mobilized more than 1.8 billion CFA francs in 2025 to support vulnerable populations. These figures were presented Wednesday, Jan. 21, in Kpalimé during the opening of the annual review of activities for the Ministry of Solidarity, Gender, Family, and Child Protection.
According to the data presented, the ministry recorded a physical completion rate of 71.56% and a financial execution rate of 82%. A total of 204,718 people benefited from public interventions during the period. Women accounted for 59.63% of the beneficiaries. These interventions specifically focused on social protection, child protection, gender promotion, and literacy.
Regarding the geographical distribution, Greater Lomé, which includes the capital and its surrounding areas, emerged as the primary intervention zone with 65,642 beneficiaries. It preceded the Plateaux, Kara, Centrale, Savanes, and Maritime regions.
Authorities stated that these results occurred within a constrained budgetary context marked by pressure on public resources. The sector minister, Moni Sankaredja-Sinandja, emphasized that the annual review aimed to analyze and validate performance in order to adjust strategies and improve program efficiency.
Beyond the assessment, the proceedings in Kpalimé will serve as a basis for the preparation of 2026 action plans and budgets. The goal is to "perfect our intervention strategies in order to carry out relevant actions that meet the real needs of vulnerable populations," according to Minister Moni Sankaredja-Sinandja.
R.E.D
Biometric ID Registration Continues In Zio Prefecture Until Feb. 18
Togo’s national biometric identification campaign is continuing in Zio prefecture, where mass registration began on Jan. 19. Authorities say the operation in the area bordering Greater Lomé will run until Feb. 18.
Attendance remains high at registration centers in Tsévié and nearby towns, with mobile teams using biometric kits to register residents daily. Ahead of the rollout, authorities held a workshop on grievance procedures to boost transparency and public confidence.
The National Identification Agency (ANID) is running the campaign under the supervision of the ministry responsible for public service reform and digital transformation. The initiative aims to assign a Unique Identification Number (NIU) to every resident.
Officials say the goal is not just to issue an ID card and a number. The NIU is expected to help residents access services including healthcare, social security and financial services.
The campaign will also support the creation of a centralized national database, which authorities say will strengthen policy planning and improve service delivery.
The campaign is part of the West Africa Regional Readiness for Inclusive Identification (WURI-Togo) project, backed by $72 million in World Bank funding, at a time when fewer than 15% of Togolese citizens have an official ID card.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo’s 2026 Finance Law: Five Ministries Absorb 59% of Allocations
Togo will allocate 1,143.96 billion CFA francs to the 30 ministries in the Fifth Republic’s first government. More than 670 billion CFA francs, around 59% of the total, will go to five ministries, according to the 2026 budget law.
Based on the figures, Togo First has listed the five ministries with the largest allocations.
1) Ministry of National Education
Led by Mama Omorou, the ministry tops the list with a proposed budget of 212 billion CFA francs for 2026, up more than 15% from 183 billion CFA francs in 2025. Of the total, 104 billion CFA francs is earmarked for preschool and primary education, 64 billion CFA francs for general secondary education, and nearly 14 billion CFA francs for technical and vocational training.
2) Minister Delegate for Public Works and Infrastructure
Headed by Sani Yaya, the ministry ranks second with a proposed allocation of 149 billion CFA francs, up more than 62% from 92 billion CFA francs in 2025. About 107 billion CFA francs is set aside for building and rehabilitating roads and public infrastructure. A further 23 billion CFA francs is planned for rural road development and expansion, while 17 billion CFA francs will go to maintenance of the national road network and related infrastructure.
3) Ministry of National Defence
With a proposed budget of 119 billion CFA francs, unchanged from the previous year, the defence ministry ranks third. With security challenges persisting in the north, nearly 60 billion CFA francs will go to support the armed forces. The army is also earmarked 18 billion CFA francs.
4) Ministry of Health, Public Hygiene, Universal Coverage and Insurance
The ministry has a proposed budget of 118 billion CFA francs, up 3.6% from 114 billion CFA francs in 2025. Around 60 billion CFA francs will fund healthcare delivery and quality, while roughly 23 billion CFA francs is intended for health promotion, public hygiene and disease control. Another 2.7 billion CFA francs is reserved for universal health coverage.
5) Minister Delegate for Energy and Mining Resources
Rounding out the top five, the ministry is allocated 71 billion CFA francs, up 14.5% from 62 billion CFA francs in 2025. The funding will mainly support structural projects aimed at achieving universal access to electricity by 2030.
Esaïe Edoh