As part of the 2020 state budget, the government allocated XOF25 million to the ministry of infrastructure and transport, for the rehabilitation of the Sarakawa mausoleum. 

Firms interested in handling the project have until March 10, 2020, to submit their bids to the ministry of infrastructure. 

The historic site, it should be recalled, is near the place where the plane of the late Togolese President, Gnassingbé Eyadema, crashed, on January 24, 1974. The leader who was onboard survived but three of his generals that were with him perished. Following the accident, a monument picturing President Eyadema (standing) surrounded by the three generals was erected at the Sarakawa mausoleum. 

Séna Akoda

In Togo, various water retention basins will be connected under the Urban Development and Infrastructure Project (PIDU). The basins in question are the “deux lions” basins and “Caméléon” basin (in Agoè-Nyivé and Adidoadin).

In detail, the works will involve draining the Caméléon basin and directing the drained water to the basin of Agbalélépédogan (in Adidoadin and Agbalépédogan).

Water in the area of the Centre culturel Loyola (CCL) and the lower part of Massohoin (Lomé, Cacaveli, Massohoin and Agbalélépédogan) will also be drained.

Currently, the government seeks a firm that will conduct technical studies for the project. They will include the inspection of concerned drainage systems and the submission of different work options. 

The selected firm should also proceed to geotechnical assessments and a financial estimation of works. 

Séna Akoda

In Togo, Sunu Bank, formerly Banque Populaire pour l’Epargne et le Crédit (BPEC) has adopted WhatsApp banking services to allow its clients to instantly get their account balance, among others. 

With the services, Sunu Bank’s clients will also have access to their 10 most recent transactions. In addition, with Whatsapp banking, they will be able to deposit money on their account, buy mobile vouchers, and even pay their power bills and Canal plus subscription, via Flooz and Tmoney mobile money services. 

To access the service, the lender’s customers must go to any of its branches to register. 

Whatsapp banking services is a platform developed by Togolese Edem Adjamagbo. Last year, it won the Bootcamp Cap’tech contest in Casablanca, Morocco. 

Séna Akoda

Lomé-based pan-African lender, Ecobank, just launched the 3rd edition of its “Ecobank Fintech Challenge.” 

African startups that will run in this contest will have the chance to promote their fintech products or services and eventually collaborate with Ecobank. Finalists will benefit from a mentoring program and training camp, followed by an awards ceremony and an innovation fair at the bank’s headquarters next June. 

“The Ecobank Fintech Challenge, as well as the mentoring program, were redesigned to produce more added-value to Ecobank and Fintech businesses,” said Djiba Diallo, Senior advisor on fintech at Ecobank. For example, “one of the major innovations this year will be how pre-selected fintechs will be able to access our APIs through the Sandbox, which is our pan-African platform designed for designers,” he added.  

Launched  in partnership with the consultancy firm Konfidants, the Ecobank Fintech Challenge  is also sponsored by other partners, both in Africa and the world. Applications can be submitted until April 12. 

Next March 7th, the Polytechnical University of France will organize the X-Afrique 2020 forum dedicated to African entrepreneurship. On this occasion, Togo will be represented by two local startups, MUSA CS and Relika. 

The two firms are part of 10 high potential African startups selected to attend the event which aims at giving them more visibility and helping them attract more investments.

The event’s organizers plan for this edition, the fifth, workshops on artificial intelligence, African banking, energy, and digital technologies, as well as a pitch contest for the selected startups. These will help present African innovations and untapped opportunities the continent has to offer.

Lomé intends to promote at least 4,000 artisanal businesses by 2025. 

According to official sources, this aims at enhancing the contribution of craftsmen to the industrial development of the Togolese economy. 

In the same framework, sources close to the ministry of craftsmanship say artisans will be more involved in public contracts with 15% of procurements related to the sector reserved for local actors. 

To date, about nine (9) billion CFA francs has been spent to valorize the sector and its actors. Nearly 25,000 young artisans benefited from various training programs and 26 resource centers were opened. 

Also, last year, the first international market for craftsmanship was organized. Public authorities are also working to provide health insurance to all registered artisans of the country.

From 3.95% in 2010, Togo’s agricultural growth rate rose to 5.63% in 2018, according to recent reports from the parent ministry. A peak of 14.32% was recorded in 2014, thus corresponding to an average growth of 6% per year over the period reviewed (2010-2018). 

This performance was translated to an agricultural GDP (at current price) of XOF1,357.4 billion in 2019. This is almost twice the figure recorded in 2010, knowingly XOF644.26 billion.

Agriculture, let’s emphasize, contributes 40% of Togo’s GDP and employs 60% of its active population. In regards to employment, sub-sectors that employ the most people are soybeans, sesame, and pineapple. The first two are the most supported by the government (after rice and maize). 

From 2010 to 2018, the government has invested more than XOF15 billion in 10 agricultural sectors.