Togo First
Togo: Digital economy minister Cina Lawson in Kigali for Transform Africa Summit
On May 15 and 16, Kigali will host the Transform Africa Summit, a major event aimed at fostering digital economy in Africa. It is organized by Smart Africa.
Ahead of the summit however, the first council of African ministers of digital economy will be held. Cina Lawson will be the one representing Togo on this occasion.
The ministers will be discussing ways to grow a robust, emergent and inclusive digital economy over the continent. Talks will focus on how to set up digital infrastructure, improve governance in Africa’s ICT and e-commerce sectors.
Séna Akoda
Togo : ANADEB equips markets in Golf prefecture
In line with the Emergency Community Development Program (PUDC), the national agency supporting grassroot development (Anadeb) upgraded multiple markets in the Golf prefecture (Southern Togo). Some of the markets include that of Attiegou, Adidogomé, Baguida and Kpota Colas.
The socio-collective infrastructures have been equipped with stalls, PV-powered boreholes, toilets, and storage rooms. They cost more than XOF299 million and were inaugurated last Friday by Victoire Tomegah, minister of grassroot development, in the presence of Aliou Dia and Mazalo Katanga, respectively PNUD’s resident representative in Togo and Anadeb’s director general.
Anadeb it should be emphasized, contributed XOF2.1 billion to the PUDC. Out of this amount, about 455.2 million was invested in the maritime region (Golf and Agoè prefectures).
Togo: Eighth edition of Adjafi Fair to take place from Aug. 22-Sept. 8, 2019
From August 22 to September 8, 2019, the eighth edition of the Adjafi trade fair organized by Maxcom will take place.
The theme this year is “Social security of young African entrepreneurs for inclusive growth.”
The organized indicates that advertising campaign for the fair will begin May 15 at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIT).
The event which promotes young entrepreneurs and their products is backed by the government and the WAEMU Commission, as well as various institutional mechanisms focused on youth-led entrepreneurship in Togo.
Among the latter, there is the FAIEJ which is a fund supporting economic initiatives of youths, the MIFA, a risk-sharing mechanism promoting agricultural financing, and the National Youth Council (CNJ).
Séna Akoda
Regional mortgage financing fund (CRRH-UEMOA) raised its share capital to XOF9.589 billion
The regional mortgage financing fund (CRRH-UEMOA) raised its share capital to XOF9.589 billion (from 9.144 billion), by issuing 44,500 new shares.
The move was decided at the fund’s 10th ordinary general assembly which took place at the West African Development Bank’s (BOAD) office in Lomé, last April 25.
The assembly chaired by Christian Agossa approved a public bond issuance on the regional financial market. Monies raised in the operation, XOF60 billion, will be used to pay housing loans given by the fund’s shareholder banks.
In 2018, CRRH-UEMOA raised XOF79 billion, thus bringing to XOF200.3 billion the total amount it raised over about seven years to finance housing loans given by its 35 shareholder banks operating across the whole economic community.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo: Importation of goods and services is now subject to quality standards
Goods and services imported in Togo are now subject to quality standards. A decree was adopted May 9 in this framework by the minister of trade and industry, Kodjo Adédzé.
Under the new reform, importers must conform to standards related to normalization, certification, accreditation, environmental protection, and quality promotion set in Togo. This is stated in paragraph 7, art. 4 of the n°20096015 framework law of August 12, 2009.
The law indicates that the importer must provide proof of standard conformity. According to experts, the new reform aims at improving imports and protecting consumers.
Concerned business operators have six months to align with the newly-implemented measure says the ministry of trade.
Séna Akoda
AfDB, Togo discuss ways to improve SME/SMIs’ access to agricultural loans
Last Tuesday, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Togolese government met to discuss SMEs and SMIs’ access to agricultural loans. On this occasion, it was revealed that only 0.3% of businesses active in agriculture in Togo have access to banking loans.
The recent talks between the AfDB and Togolese authorities should help find ways to improve lending and loan mobilization by these businesses, according to the ministry of agriculture’s communication unit. These will support the MIFA which is a mechanism that aims to improve agricultural financing based on risk-sharing (non-related to rainfall and other hazards.
The minister also added that the objective here is to “build an ecosystem that will foster the growth of SMEs and SMIs, by improving how they are financed. This will lead to a boom in their numbers and ultimately boost the country’s job market.
Séna Akoda
Togo: Ministry of agriculture deploys 700 agents to identify actors of the agricultural value chains
Togo’s ministry of agriculture is carrying out a campaign to identify actors of the agricultural value chains.
Started end-April 2019, the move is led by 700 agents and actors targeted include producers, processors, sellers of agricultural and agro-food products and service providers.
According to the ministry, identifying these actors will help “better structure agricultural value chains and build a system to support and develop clusters.”
Actors that will be registered on the database put in place in the campaign’s framework must meet three conditions : be between 18 and 60 years ; operate in at least one of the agricultural value chains mentioned above ; and benefit from a technical support and be open to innovations.
Séna Akoda
Togo: Revenue Office launches nation-wide campaign against corruption
The Togolese Revenue Office (OTR) launched on May 7, a sensitization campaign to fight corruption within the institution.
The campaign is organized in partnership with the High Authority for the Fight against Corruption and Related Offenses (HAPLUCIA).
“We target associations, NGOs, our agents, and journalists who all have the duty to fight corruption,” said Mouhamed Nour-Dine Assindoh, head of OTR’s anti-corruption unit. The campaign, he adds, should in the next six months yield significant results.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo gets a new constitution
In Togo, the bill to revise the constitution was voted, unanimously, yesterday by the parliament.
The new bill restricts the presidential term to five years renewable once and for a president to be elected, he or she will be elected through uninominal suffrage, according to a majority, two rounds system.
Mandates of deputies and members of the constitutional court have also been limited. Both are elected for a period of six years but the first can renew their term twice while the second group can only do so once.
Let’s emphasize that “completed or ongoing terms at the date at which the present bill becomes effective will not be taken into account for the implementation of measures set by articles 52 and 59 relative to term limit.”
Togo : XOF38 billion secured so far for Kara’s agropole project
So far, XOF38 billion has been raised by Togo from its main partners for the Kara agropole which is being established in Northern Togo. These partners are the African Development Bank (AfDB), West African Development Bank (BOAD) and the Saemaul foundation from South Korea.
The figure was revealed to Togo First by Essowè Batana, chairman and managing director of the agency for the promotion and development of agropoles in Togo (APRODAT).
The whole project, it should be noted costs XOF65 billion. Monies raised so far served to prepare the annual budget and work plan (PTBA) and the procurement plan (PPM) and must be approved by the AfDB.
Part also served to start structuring value chains and initiate works related to legal regulations, and procurement for infrastructures that will be built.
Kara’s agropole should be completed by the end of 2022 or the beginning of 2023.
Séna Akoda