Togo First
OTR launches 40% discount on goods clearance, ends on December 31
From now till December 31, 2019, the Togolese Revenue Office (OTR) is offering a 40% discount on clearance of cars and undelivered goods. Economic actors, accredited customs agents, consignees, importers, and exporters may benefit from the measure.
The latter, let's note aims to boost the clearance of concerned goods, as part of a scheme launched last year by the OTR, and ended last November 30.
The discount falls in line with article 15 of the Togolese Customs Code.
Séna Akoda
Togo's water utility in talks with banks to adopt e-payment
Togo's water utility, Togolaise des Eaux (TDE) is in talks with various banks to adopt online payment of bills and quotes. This was disclosed by sources close to the Business Climate Cell.
Once effective, the utility will be the third public company, after the Revenue Office (OTR) and the National Social Security Fund (CNSS), to adopt e-payment.
Let it be recalled that a few months ago, the TDE adopted mobile money as a payment method for bills, in addition to putting online, a connection application (just like the CEET - the public utility, did a few months before).
All these reforms according to the sources, aim to improve the Togolese business climate.
Séna Akoda
Togo: Government adopts bill to establish a national order of engineers
The Togolese government has decided to establish a national order of engineers. It will serve as a bridge between these professionals and public policies.
The related draft bill was adopted yesterday, during a ministers' council held the same day.
The national order of engineers will make sure that engineers working in the country meet quality standards and ethics imposed in the sector.
"Engineers must meet specific standards and ethics that reassure the public, who can trust their efficiency in their various endeavors," minutes from the council of ministers report.
Now, all that is left for the new order to be established is the parliament passing the bill.
Séna Akoda
Togo : Aviation security agency inaugurates three technical infrastructures
Ahead of its 60th anniversary next Dec. 12, the National Aviation Security Agency (ASECNA) has inaugurated three technical facilities to improve its operations.
The facilities include a regional centre for air traffic (CCR), a weather observation station, a fire station. Also, in the framework of its anniversary, the agency is organizing open houses, started last Wednesday and closing today.
The event aims at enabling the Togolese people, especially high school students, to better know the agency and get interested in aviation jobs.
Kékéli Efficient Power plant to start operations by the end of 2020
The Kekeli Efficient Power thermal plan, located in Lomé, should be operational by the end of 2020.
In detail, the first operational phase was launched last June. Upon its completion, expected in Q3 2020, the plant should have a production capacity of 47 MW using a gas turbine. In the second stage (scheduled for Q3 2021), a steam turbine with a capacity of 18MW will be added. This will bring the plant's annual production to around 526GWh, and convert the thermal plant into a combined-cycle plant - to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The energy produced at the plant should be provided to about 1.5 million people (20% of the population). It cost XOF65 billion.
Soon, all banks in Togo will adopt online payment of taxes
All banks operating in Togo should soon each have their tax and customs e-payment platforms. It was disclosed by the Togolese Revenue Office (OTR) on December 4, 2019, after a meeting gathering all heads of the lenders.
Through the move, the OTR and its partners will ease the online payment of taxes by medium and large companies.
Let's recall that the reform has already been implemented at Ecobank Togo (during its pilot stage), Union Togolaise de Banque (UTB), and Banque Togolaise pour le Commerce et l'Industrie (BTCI).
It is part of a battery of initiatives aimed at improving Togo's "Paying Taxes" indicator on the Doing Business report. Another example of these is tax payment via mobile money, which was recently validated by the OTR.
Séna Akoda
WAEMU releases $100M for Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali to better fight terrorism
The West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) will release approximately $100 million (XOF50 billion) for Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to better fight terrorism.
This was disclosed yesterday by Abdallah Boureima, Chairman of the WAEMU Commission. This was just after the 22nd extraordinary session of the Conference of Heads of WAEMU States.
The funds are part of a larger amount (up to $500 million) which WAEMU committed to invest in the fight against terrorism in the region (over the 2020-2024 period).
At the conference, the heads of State also adopted an act to establish a regional security fund.
R.E.D
Togo gets €33 million grant from the European Union, as budget support
In 2019-2020, the European Union (EU) will grant €33 million (about XOF21.6 billion) to Togo's public treasury.
From this amount, €17 million should be disbursed for 2019. Overall, the grant will support the government in implementing reforms relative to the management of public finances, decentralization strategy, business climate's improvement, and the national statistics system.
It (the facility) aligns with phase 3 of the Contract for Consolidation of the Togolese State. An agreement was signed yesterday, Dec 3, in its framework. Demba Tignokpa, minister of planning, and Bruno Hanses, EU's Chargé d'affaires in Togo, both represented the two parties at the signing.
This grant, the minister commented, "adds to the State's resources enabling the government to meet the people's needs, especially in social sectors." Besides, "it should foster an inclusive and stable socioeconomic growth in Togo, in line with all three axes of the 2018-2022 National Development Plan," he added.
R.E.D
The International Association of Treasury Services is currently holding in Lomé a conference on accounting risk control
The International Association of Treasury Services is holding its 13th annual conference in Lomé at the moment.
The focus of this meeting is the control of accounting risks. The reason for this topic is that "no matter the country, level of growth or the level of implementation of reforms, our financial administrations are usually exposed to many risks, whose nature, probability of occurring or related consequences are all variables but non-negligible," said Jean-Marc Niel, general secretary of the association, at the event's opening on December 2.
For his part, the managing director of the treasury and public accountability office (DGTCP), Ekpao Edjabo said that the conference aims to discuss issues hindering the modernization of public finance management.
Controlling accounting risks is, according to Badanam Patoki, Secretary-General at the Togolese Ministry of Economy and Finance, closely related to improving transparency in the management of public finance.
Séna Akoda
Togo: Enrolment rate in primary schools increased significantly over the past decade (2008-2018)
The gross enrolment rate in Togolese primary schools was 126.8% last year. According to the government which disclosed the figure, this is far above the rate recorded in 2008 - 98% - but still below the 150% peak in 2015-2017.
The increase over the past decade was driven by more children getting enrolled in pre-school (150,000 in 2018 against about 86,000 in 2013). Enrolment levels in Lomé especially were considerably better.
Overall, these improvements have to do with the government's efforts through various programs such as the school canteens project and School Assur.
Beyond gross enrolment rate, the rate of completion of primary education improved as well (from 84.4% in 2014 to 91% in 2018); similar to the net enrolment rate (from 82.9% in 2011-2012 to 93.8% in 2017) and repetition rates (-2.4% between 2015 and 2017).