Togo First
Seduced by Togo’s national development plan, Chinese giants announce investments in the country
In preparation for the opening ceremony of FOCAC, the forum on Africa-China cooperation, Togo’s delegation led by the president Faure Gnassingbé, continued meetings with investors on Monday 3, September 2018 in Beijing. The stated objective of these meetings is to invite those investors into participating in the implementation of Togo’s 5- year action plan which is mainly focused on the private sector.
After meetings (the previous day) during which two giants of the construction sector announced their intention to invest in main projects of the National development plan, four other large investors also signified their interests in investing in the country during Monday’s meetings.
CRBC: a world-class civil engineering interested in the road infrastructure sector
With the first investor Du Fei, president of China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), the discussions were essentially focused on the logistics corridor namely, the connection between Lomé port and the countries of the Hinterland and projects around nationale n°1. CRBC, a world-class civil engineering company, has already proved its worth with the construction of Amakpapé bridge within a record time. This long-time partner has also built many road infrastructures such as Lomé and Alédjo bypasses as well as the Lomé-Vogan road under construction.
China Railway Construction Bridge Engineering Group to invest in the railway sector
To boost the dying railway sector, various opportunities in the sector notably Togo’s strategic position in West Africa were presented to China Railway Construction Bridge Engineering Group during a meeting. The company specialized in railway infrastructures and already present in many large infrastructure projects in Africa expressed its will to invest into the infrastructure sector in Togo, for construction of the 600 kilometers long Lomé-Cinkassé railway notably.
Towards a partnership with YTO Camaco to accelerate modernization of the agriculture sector
Zhang Ting, director of YTO Camaco in West Africa, discussed investments in the agriculture sector. The world leader of farm machines commercialization is already selling equipment in Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, and Nigeria where it established subsidiaries. It is planning to set an assembly plant to manufacture ground preparation (tractors and its hitches) machines for agriculture products transformation and post-harvest equipment, in the country. Shortly, upon Faure Gnassingbé’s instructions, the two parties will start the negotiations to accelerate the support this company can provide to the second axis of the national development plan, focused on the promotion of a modern and green agriculture which will provide massive jobs.
Power China interested in the energy sector
Already present in Togo via its African subsidiary in charge of the joint Togo-Benin energy project, Adjarala wishes to accompany Togo in the implementation of its electrification strategy. It promises to include the social dimension (allowing to contribute to the population’s well-being) in its investment plan.
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) pledges support to Chinese investors in Togo
Before attending the official launch of FOCAC 2018 at Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Togo’s president Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, accompanied by his ministers visited AIIB’s headquarters to meet Jin Liqun, president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). After he was informed of the three key points of Togo’s national development plan, Jin Liqun praised the development's institutional framework Togo elaborated and assured that AIIB would be ready to back Chinese investors willing to invest in Togo.
Fiacre E. Kakpo
China provided 30.2% of overall funds granted to Togo in 2017 – APD 2017
Every year, China and Togo boost their bilateral trade and cooperation relationship. According to the public development aid report (Aide Publique au Développement-APD) published by Togo’s ministry of planning and development in 2017, China is Togo’s second-largest lender with $19.85 million lent to the country.
This amount represents 24.92% of the overall loans ($79 million) reported by the APD. China was outrun by the West African Development Bank which lent $20.78 million to Togo during the period being reviewed.
As far as donations are concerned, in 2017, China provided 4.9% of total aids. This country, thanks to Exim Bank China, was the fifth largest donor behind the European Union, World Bank, the African Development Bank and the West African Development Bank.
Let’s note that according to the APD, China has also been the second largest fund (loans and donations) provider for Togo with 30.20% of the overall funds granted in 2017.
Séna Akoda
Togo : Free .tg TLD, hosting and email to be offered to 1000 companies this month
To promote company creation and digital inclusion in Togo, the ministry of digital economy launched a campaign to promote the country’s top-level domain (.tg). This campaign which started on September 1, 2018, will end on September 30, 2018.
The initiative is supported by the ministry of commerce and private sector development, the chamber of industry and commerce, the business registration center, the business climate cell (Cellule Climat des affaires-CCA) and the posts and telecommunications regulatory agency.
The symbol of Togo’s digital identity, .tg Top level domain will be offered, for free, to the first 1,000 companies to formalize themselves during the promotion period.
Apart from the domain name (.tg), these companies will be offered a hosting package and an email address. With this promotion, the ministry wants to increase the visibility of companies established in the country and facilitate their development nationally and internationally.
The .tg TLD and related tools will also foster companies’ credibility by boosting internet users’ trust.
Formerly managed by the private company CAFE Informatique, .tg TLD is being managed, since May 23, 2016, by the authorities who decided to increase the TLD’s popularity internationally and decrease its registration fees deemed too high.
China will invest $60 billion in Africa - Xi Jinping
Today September 3, 2018, in Beijing, in his opening speech during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Xi Jinping (photo), China’s president announced that his country would provide $60 billion to Africa.
The president explained that these funds will be granted as government aids and investments via financial institutions and companies.
He also announced some measures aimed at canceling the debts some African countries contracted via interest-free loans and which are normally due by end-2018.
These cancellations concern countries deemed as least developed, poor and highly indebted, landlocked or developing islands with diplomatic ties with China, he continued.
Xi Jinping also declared that China was planning eight major initiatives in various sectors such as industrial promotion, infrastructures, trade facilitation and green development. These initiatives are to be implemented with African countries in the three coming years and even beyond.
Togo to interconnect its decentralized financial audit units with the SIGFIP
Togo, via the Projet d’Appui à la mobilisation des ressources et au renforcement des capacités institutionnelles (PAMOCI), will interconnect decentralised financial audit centers with the main site of Système Intégré de Gestion des Finances Publiques (SIGFIP), the integrated public finance management system.
In the framework of that project, computer equipment will be set up in the decentralized financial audit units at various ministries and institutions.
To that regard, on behalf of the economy and finance ministry, the management of PAMOCI is soliciting bids from candidates meeting the criteria specified in the tender document published in the 10361st edition of Togo-Presse on August 31, 2018.
Three lots are constituted in the bid. The first lot is for computer equipment supply and setup in the decentralized financial audit units. The second one is for air-conditioners supply and installation in those units and the third lot for the interconnection.
The project will be funded thanks to a donation granted by the African Development fund to PAMOCI.
Séna Akoda
A delegation of Togolese high officials to attend a series of meetings in China in preparation for FOCAC
A delegation of Togo’s finance and foreign affairs ministers along with high officials is announced in China for a series of meetings in the framework of FOCAC. These include the 13th meeting of high officials and the 7th ministerial conference which will be held respectively on September 1 and September 2, 2018.
At the end of those preparatory meetings, a high-level discussion gathering the participating countries’ heads of states and the business community will be organized.
A roundtable with China’s president Xi Jinping will be held. At the roundtable, Togo’s president will give a 5-minute speech like his peers. He will also then attend the FOCAC whose main goal is to strengthen cooperation with China while at the same time being realistic about the failures to implement the recommendations issued during the previous summit held in Johannesburg in 2015.
Togo’s ambition is to position itself as the anchor for the "one belt, one road" project, strengthen political cooperation with China and attract Chinese investors to its national development plan and structuring projects.
Séna Akoda
Togo: The innovation fair to kick off tomorrow September 1 in Lomé
Lomé will host as of tomorrow September 1 the Innovation and Technology Fair (STIL) which aims to showcase technological advances in Togo and also stimulate participants’ creativity.
During the event, best initiatives will be rewarded through a competition centered on high-impact projects called “J'INNOVE”. Candidates will have to defend their project before a jury of experts.
In addition, various discussion panels are planned to allow attendees to share experiences on topics such as “impact of digital technology in agribusiness”, “financial institutions digitalization” and "quality approach towards innovation”. Let’s note that the STIL is supported by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research.
Togo: ANSAT purchases 15 tons of corn to build a security stock
Togo’s National Agency for Food Security (ANSAT) has just purchased 15 tons of corn (valued at CFA2.4 million) from Kpessi famers in the Eastern Mono prefecture. Under this move, the agency aims to strengthen its security stock to prevent shortages and better support local producers in increasing production. However, ANSAT would be able to supply the grain market in the event of shortages which are mainly due to bad weather and seeding delays. The strategy “helps farmers gain higher selling prices and make profit”, we learned.
Togo: Burkina Faso invited as special guest for the 15th edition of Lomé International fair
The promoters of Lomé international fair (Foire Internationale de Lomé) announced on August 30, 2018, during a press conference that the 15th edition of that fair will be held from November 23 to December 1, 2018. This year, Burkina Faso, Togo’s second largest client apart from Benin, is the special guest.
Placed under the theme: “La chaine de valeur vecteur économique du progress”, (value chain : a vector for economic progress), this trade and economic meeting will draw the two countries’ economic operators together, Bernadette Legzim-Balouki, Togo’s trade minister explained.
Over the years, Lomé International Fair qualified by WAEMU as the best fair in the sub-region has become the not-to-be-missed end of year event. It is the exhibitions, conferences, seminars, and roundtables opportunity for Togo and other participating countries’ economic operators.
B2B meetings are also planned to establish partnerships with the different exhibitionists. Some days have especially been set apart for African countries.
In Lomé, Canal+ launches Essentiel+, a new package with 130 channels
French Group Canal+ announced August 29, 2018, the launch of a new package, baptized “Essentiel+”. This was during a press conference in Lomé.
With 130 channels, 17 of which are in high definition (HD), the new offer replaces Canal+’s former package which had only 12 channels. “Based on a survey of our customers, we wanted to improve this package with new channels, namely Canal+ Comédie and Canal+ Action which align with African realities, and Canal+ Sport for major sport events,” Canal+ Togo’s MD, Alexandre Cohen told the press.
Essentiel+ offers 12 entertainment channels, 4 specific sport channels, 5 general sport channels, and African channels. It adds to the existing packages which are Tout Canal, Access, Access+, Evasion and Evasion+.
“Our customers will have a broad range of offers to pick from… We always try to renew our programs, channels, organization, always for their satisfaction,” he added.
The new offer has been available since August 28 and can be subscribed to at any Canal+ branch. It costs 12,000 CFA against 10,000 for the former package.