Comforted by its 59-places progression in the Doing Business 2020, Togo is eying a place in the Top50 of the next report (Doing Business 2021). Ranked 97^th in the Doing Business 2020, the country wants to stay on track by projecting a further jump of at least 47 places. The information was brought to the media on Friday 15 November during a press lunch initiated by the Business Climate Unit (Cellule Climat des Affaires- CCA), a few days after the publication of the report which assesses the ease of doing business in 192 countries in the world.

According to Sandra Ablamba Johnson (photo), Minister Counsellor to the President of the Republic in charge of the Business Climate, this challenge can be met given the commitment and determination of the topmost echelon to advance in the ranking.

But to do this, the Minister is still counting on the support of the press, which, according to her, has enabled Togo to achieve the above-mentioned performances. “The results we have had are not only due to the technical efforts but also to your commitment and all the fruitful collaboration we have had over the past two years with you (ed note: media),” she said, delighted.

Séna Akoda 

Overall, Togo's State budget for 2020, revenues and expenditures, has been set to XOF1,466.2 billion, up about 6% compared to previous estimates. 

The government announced the increase on November 13 after the ministers' council held the same day. 

Expectations were scaled up in prevision of a greater household final consumption expenditure and private investment, spurred by the remarkable improvement in the business climate, and initiatives launched under the national development plan. 

Next year, economic growth is forecast at 5.5%, up 0.2% compared to 2019 (where the figure was scaled up twice). 

To reach its goals for the coming year, Lomé "will pursue efforts to boost internal revenues, better allocate public resources based on efficient public spending and better control of budget deficit," the report from the ministers' council indicates. In this framework, the national tax office, OTR, should collect more than XOF660 billion of taxes. 

Beyond these, the government "is fully committed...to taking all measures necessary to accelerate economic growth and appropriately meet social needs." Regarding the latter, special attention will be given, through schemes such as the Community Development Emergency Programme (PUDC), the Project for Support to Vulnerable Populations (PAPV), agro-industrial hubs, and projects aimed at boosting youth employment across various economic sectors.

Similarly, the government commits to "pursuing and boosting efforts relative to the development of rural roads, the rehabilitation of health equipment, and decentralization."  

On November 13, 2019, the parliament passed a law on the attributes and functioning of the Grand Lomé autonomous district. 

The district will be managed by a council of 52 advisors and a district governor. Its communities will be represented by 26 advisors while the other 26 advisors, as well as the district governor, will be appointed by the Head of State. 

"This entity was created in response to a need to execute actions in the capital, some of which relate to development, maintenance, operationalization, and modernization, that are beyond communities' capacities. This was declared by Payadowa Boukpessi, minister of territorial administration," after the law's adoption. 

The Grand Lomé autonomous district is endowed with its own financial autonomy and legal status. It regroups the Lomé-commune and Agoè-Nyivé municipalities. It is the local authority representing the whole of the capital. 

M.S.A 

At end-September 2019, Togo's public debt ratio was 68%. The good news was revealed yesterday by the minister of economy, Sani Yaya. The official was addressing parliamentarians in the framework of the adoption of the supplementary budget act 2019. 

Yaya added that "efforts are pursued to keep the debt ratio, at the end of December 2019, below the WAEMU standard which is 70% of the GDP." 

Already at the end of the first quarter of this year, the country's public debt fell below the 70% standard according to official sources; quite an improvement considering that it exceeded 80% at the end of 2016. 

R.E.D

A U-Lab incubator will soon open its doors at the University of Lomé. 

The incubator will produce quality innovations that tackle real issues both at the local and global levels. Entrepreneurs incubated at U-Lab will receive tailored technical support from experts, and financings; this, as a result of a partnership between the University of Lomé, Ecole des Mines Albi Carmaux in France, and Deal & consulting. 

"By launching this incubator, the University of Lomé will contribute to the country's development efforts, and especially to the national development plan (PND)," reads a release on the university's website.

All together, setting up and running the incubator should cost more than $850,000 (nearly XOF5008 million). The University will provide 21.87% of the funds. 

Next Tuesday, the academic institution, under the sponsorship of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will organize a reflection day on the theme "Academic incubator at the University of Lomé, a lever combining research and entrepreneurship." 

A.M.S

Initially scheduled for November 11, 2010, the training of agricultural drones’ pilots has been postponed to coming December 9th.

This comes from a press release signed by Dona Etchri, head of the West African accreditation center for agricultural aviation and agricultural precision. 

The training center's management decided to postpone the date of the classes' opening to allow as many people as possible to join. Some applicants from Togo, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, the Central African Republic, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon have already validated their registration. 

The training, let's recall, falls under a deal reached between Dona Etchri, founder of the E-agribusiness platform, and Chinese firm Quanfeng Aviation. 

Séna Akoda

The Youth Entrepreneurship Promotion Program (PPEJ) is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary. 

The Togolese initiative has since 1994 provided more than XOF500 million in subsidies to about 3,000 young entrepreneurs. It is, according to Victoire Tomegah Dogbe, minister of grassroots development, a pioneer of tools supporting self-employment of youth. 

Previously known as the Youth Insertion Fund (FIJ), the PPEJ targets youths aged between 16 to 30 years, with an education or not, coming from one of the CONFEJES member States and who have taken part in a workshop on business creation and entrepreneurship. 

R.E.D