Togo First
Togo: State Secretariat in charge of financial inclusion starts a set of workshops on financial education for microfinance institutions
Yesterday in Lomé, the first stage of a battery of training workshops dedicated to financial inclusion that will be organized over the whole country was launched.
This was done by Prince-Agbodjan, representative of Mazamesso Assih, State Secretary in charge of financial inclusion and the informal sector. On the occasion, he said the training is essential to teach Togolese how to manage financial resources and access loans.
The initiative follows, according to Price-Agbodjan, a finscope study that revealed that "53% of Togolese people say they need financial education" and "71% of them said they had financial issues to honor their commitments."
During the recent training, topics such as budgeting, savings, digital financial education, and others will be covered. The next locations to host the workshop are Tsévié, Kpalimé, Atakpamé, Sokodé, Kara, and Dapaong.
Séna Akoda
A Togolese delegation is currently at the French Travel Market to promote Togo as a touristic destination
A Togolese delegation is currently in Paris where it is attending the International French Travel Market Top Resa. The mission of this delegation which regroups representatives from the ministry of tourism, hotels, travel agencies, and Miss Togo 2019, is to boost Togo's visibility on the French market and attract more French tourists to the country, according to the Togolese Ministry of Finance.
In effect, at the event, the representatives showcased Togo's cultural heritage (local dances and chants, traditional crafts and infrastructures such as the Koutammaku site listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site), among others.
Attending the fair, it should be highlighted, aligns with a wider strategy to make "Togo, the premiere international touristic destination of France based on the two countries' historical bonds and linguistic affinity."
The International French Travel Market will end tomorrow, October 4th.
Séna Akoda
Togo: OTR organizes a fair to register not-yet registered, but used bikes
On Tuesday, the Togolese Revenue Office (OTR) launched a fair to "facilitate registration and customs clearance formalities for bikes not yet registered but in use in the country."
According to the related communiqué signed by the OTR's head commissioner, Philippe Kokou Tchodié, a reduction of 45% is granted on the customs value for all types of bikes.
The document, however, indicates that the operation will end on October 31, 2019. Also, only bikes purchased before October 1, 2019 can benefit from it.
Séna Akoda
Togolese parliament ratifies conventions to accelerate the operationalization of the Single African Air Transport Markert (SAATM)
During their most recent session on October 1, 2019, Togolese deputies discussed security issues impairing air transport and services, as well as the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).
The parliamentarians adopted two ratification projects. The first is the protocol to amend the convention on offenses and certain other acts committed on board an aircraft (Montreal, April 4, 2014), to boost the security and safety of planes, passengers and goods. The second is the agreement between Togo and the Saudi kingdom, relative to air services, signed on February 24, 2016, in Jeddah. This agreement, according to officials, falls under the PND and paves the way for economic exchanges between the two partners.
Also, the parliament adopted a project for the adhesion of Togo to the constitution of the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) adopted on December 16, 2009, in Dakar, Senegal.
According to Tsègan Djigbodi, President of the National Assembly, the adoption of these projects (unanimously) "will ease the operationalization of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM)."
Let's note that the minister of transport, Zouhératou Tchakondoh-Kassah Traoré, and the MD of the national agency for civil aviation (ANAC), Gnama Latta Dokissime, were at the recent session.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo: The number of businesses created over the first eight months of 2019 was up 7%, year-on-year
Spurred by new reforms, the number of businesses created in Togo over the first 8 months of this year were up 7% compared to last year, over the same period. Indeed, data from the Center for Business Formalities puts this figure at 9,895 between January and August 2019, against 9,205 in 2018.
The trend should be sustained given economic recovery and the various measures implemented to improve the business climate. Among the latter is a significant reduction of time needed to get a business establishment card (from 24 hours in 2018 to 7 hours last February), the dematerialization of key processes to mobile (Flooz, T-money) and banks (Mastercard, Visa, wiring).
There is also the elimination of a requirement that limited liability companies have their articles of association drafted by a notary. This reform was even lauded by the World Bank which recently put Togo among the top 20 economies that improved their business climate most in the past 12 months.
It should also be noted that since last Monday, registration and stamp duties have been effectively suppressed.
Togo seeks a consultant to assess the level of utilization of ICTs and their quality in the country
A consultant is being sought after in the framework of an investigation to assess the level of utilization of ICTs in Togo and how beneficiaries of the WARCIP perceive the project. According to a document from the ministry of the digital economy, the related call for expression of interest will close next Friday.
The hired consultant will collect from the surveyed population their description of ICT services in the country, their opinion about unit costs of national and international communication, about project execution, etc.
The consultant will also assess the impacts of the WARCIP on its beneficiaries; the project, let it be recalled, is financed by the World Bank and aims at boosting connectivity in Togo.
According to the ministry of digital technologies, this goal should be met by building new infrastructures to improve network quality while at the same time lowering related access costs. Besides, the regulatory framework for information and communication technologies will be updated.
Séna Akoda
The Lomé city digital directory has been officially launched
On Sept.30, the Lomé City project was effectively launched after an experimentation phase.
The tool, a digital directory, is available on Play Store, on the project's dedicated website (www.lome-city.com) and its Facebook page. It aims to "serve as a compass for the people of Lomé, as well as a reference among other local guides," according to Osspiss Ogname, its developer.
The directory offers three main services, notably: easy search and access to services provided by local businesses; it is a channel where local businesses and individuals can publish ads and events; boost these audiences' digital audience through efficient advertising.
"The Lomé City app will help rapidly find interesting places in Lomé (businesses, restaurants, bars, hotels, hospitals, etc). It also allows identifying on a map the fastest routes to a specific location."
"Our vision is social", said the project's promoters before adding: "We are rendering the city of Lomé a service by updating urban data."
Séna Akoda
The Alliance for the Promotion of the Port of Lomé was recently in Mali, as part of its mission to promote the infrastructure
After Burkina Faso, the delegation from the Alliance for the Promotion of the Port of Lomé (A2PL) was in Mali last week, in the framework of its mission to promote the infrastructure across the Sahel. Talks took place between Sept. 25 and 30 at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Mali (CCIM).
On this occasion, Remy Moevi, Vice President of Togo's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIT) showcased some advantages of the A2PL and the port of Lomé, citing for example the simplification of administrative and customs processes through the creation of the single external trade office (GUCE), the extended port-related data system (SIPE), and the establishment of special warehouses for Sahel countries at the port.
"Other major reasons to trust the A2PL include easy access to the port of Lomé, better assistance and rapid support," the CCIT's vice president said.
Togo: A digital campaign has been launched to identify and formalize 50 actors of the informal sector
In Togo, a digital campaign has been launched to identify and formalize business owners operating in the informal sector. The campaign which is on Twitter is led by the State Secretary for financial inclusion and the informal sector and the Delegation in Charge of the Informal Sector's Organization (DOSI).
In the framework of the campaign, Togolese twitter users are urged to, using the hashtag #FormalisonsLes, "help identify 50 people operating in the informal circuit who they meet daily. These include local food sellers, mechanics, and artisans, among others. By formalizing, these actors will benefit from various advantages (access to financial services, new outlets, etc)."
The identified actors should be formalized by the end of this year, both the State Secretary and DOSI committed.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Ministers and experts of WAEMU recently gathered in Lomé to discuss the housing access issue in this economic zone
Last Monday, Lomé hosted a two-day meeting where various ministers and experts discussed issues related to accessing decent and affordable housing for populations living in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).
The meeting was organized by the Caisse Régionale de Refinancement Hypothécaire (CRRH-UEMOA), with the World Bank's support.
It was placed under the theme "Policies to promote housing and foster economic growth," Various topics covered include limitations and impacts of policies to promote housing within the Union, challenges and solutions relative to housing financing, or the role of Decentralized Financial Systems (DFS) towards the improvement of financing for housing.
On this occasion, the minister of housing, Koko Ayeva, highlighted some initiatives undertaken by the government in this area. It "has adopted a national housing strategy, validated the national policy for housing and urban development (...) launched the feasibility study for the creation of structure in charge of providing urban field equipment, and more recently adopted a State-owned land code," the official declared.
According to official data, the WAEMU records a housing deficit of 3.5 million units, against an annual growth in demand of about 700,000 units.