Togo First
Regional roundtable on socio-economic models related to 5G technology ongoing in Lomé
In Lomé, representatives from various African countries are currently discussing socio-economic models related to 5G. The meeting which started last Monday is organized by Togo’s posts and telecommunications regulatory organ (ART&P) but was prompted by the International Telecommunications Union. It falls under a regional economic forum on telecommunications in Africa.
In detail, participants present will discuss digital transformation and development of future technologies towards the creation of digital economies across the continent. They will also talk about fostering a digital environment with favorable socio-economic attributes for the achievement of SDGs.
Togo, not willing to lag behind, believes this is the right time to ponder over all opportunities that 5G technology holds for its economy.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
A Togolese delegation currently in Russia for the 23rd WHO general assembly
Currently, in St Petersburg, Russia, a Togolese delegation is attending the 23rd general assembly of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) and the 62nd meeting of its African commission.
Both events will host a top-class forum on health and medical tourism, another on innovation and sustainable development in tourism, as well as a ministerial debate on education and employment in this sector.
There will also be an international symposium on how the film industry can promote tourism, sources close to Togo’s ministry of tourism indicated.
Following these, the Togolese delegation should be in Moscow for the global forum on strategies to boost tourism in metropoles.
This conference directly aligns with Togo’s 2018-2022 national development plan as the latter aims to boost tourism. Already, the government announced it will rehabilitate some of the country’s key touristic and historical sites and has launched a nationwide plan to revitalize the hospitality sector.
Séna Akoda
GCCA+ West Africa project launched in Lomé
Lomé is presently home to a regional reflection workshop on climate action. Started yesterday, the workshop which regroups actors of the Global Climate Change Action Plus (GCCA) will end Sept. 13, 2019.
In effect, participants will look at the implementation of the Paris Agreement, relative to the mobilization of available green funds especially.
In parallel to the ongoing workshop, the GCCA Plus West Africa project was launched.
The GCCA+, overall, aims to “help West African countries better tackle climate change’s impacts.” The European Union has backed the project with a €12 million financing for the 2018-2022 period.
In detail, however, it should improve upon these countries’ capacities to elaborate and implement policies that integrate climate change in their development plans and programs.
Séna Akoda
AfDB wins global award for procurement excellence
Earlier this week, the African Development Bank (AfDB) was recognised for procurement excellence by the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS). AfDB is hence the first multilateral development to receive this recognition, worldwide, a communiqué on its website indicates.
“Winning this globally-recognised award is a piece of welcoming news and we are delighted to be commended for demonstrating advanced levels of corporate procurement capability,” commented Materus Magala, Vice President for Corporate Services and Human Resources at AfDB.
AfDB, it should be noted, backs many development projects in Togo. Amongst these are the CIZO electrification project, the Agricultural Financing Incentive Mechanism and the Tax Governance Support programme. For the CIPS, it is the world’s largest professional body for procurement and supply management professionals, with offices worldwide, Africa included.
Togo: Traditional medicine may soon be taught in universities
Traditional medicine should be soon taught in Togo’s public universities. This was disclosed by Dr. Koffi Koudouvo, ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology lecturer at the University of Lomé and traditional medicine expert at the West African Health Organization (WAHO).
The reform could be effective this academic year since related legislation and curricula have already been approved and made available.
Togo it should be emphasized, is not the only sub-Saharan African nation to ensure traditional medicine is taught in schools. Indeed, while Chad, Ghana, and Benin are elaborating strategies to adopt the same reform, Niger already did. Let’s also recall the process in these various countries is backed by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Asky Airlines expands network to Praia, Cape Verde
Lomé-based pan-African carrier Asky Airlines will start serving Cape Verde next April 1, Ecofin Agency reports.
The corresponding line will travel from Lomé to Praia, via Dakar. There will be three weekly flights to the destination (Monday, Wednesday and Saturday) using a 168-seat Boeing 737-800, offering 12 seats in business class and 156 seats in economy class.
Cape Verde will thus become the 21st African destination that Asky serves, from Lomé.
Let’s recall the company which started operations almost a decade ago (2010) has the largest network in West and Central Africa, covering 23 cities across twenty (20) African countries. Ethiopian Airlines detains 40% of the group.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Lomé to host Afromarketers days for the second time this year
Come November 6th and 7th, 2019, Lomé will host, for the second time, the Afromarketers days.
The announcement was made by the event’s promoter, Kossi Assiobo (photo). On this occasion, he declared: “Seeing how the digital world is getting more and more complex, marketing, communication, and internet professionals must be aware of latest tech and marketing innovations, going from social selling, e-reputation, to responsive web design, inbound marketing, social advertising, etc.”
Just like for the first edition which took place last June, this new edition will host workshops and debates; the only exception, however, will be an awards ceremony for Afromarketers.
Currently, in Cotonou in the framework of the Afromarketers tour, Kossi Assiobo will next head to Ouagadougou before finally coming to the Togolese capital.
Séna Akoda
A traceability system to be soon established in pineapple, cashew and shea nut value chains
Togo intends, according to a document from the UN Industrial Development Organization, to establish a traceability system in the pineapple, cashew, and shea nut value chains.
The project aims at ensuring that Togolese outputs meet international certification standards, and subsequently ramp up agro-food exports, especially in the previously mentioned sectors which have great potential for export.
A call for submission of interest has actually been launched to hire a national consultant and expert in infrastructure quality.
The country let’s recall is working to become an agro-food processing hub, and to this end focuses on making local agro-food businesses more competitive. The announced measure also directly aligns with this goal.
Séna Akoda
Upon the fifth review of the extended credit facility (ECF) program, IMF says it is satisfied with reforms implemented by Togo
“If current reforms are sustained in the second half of 2019, Togo will, for the third consecutive year, meet WAEMU’s 3% standard for budget deficit.” This was declared by the latest IMF delegation in Togo, at a press conference held in the framework of its fifth review of the extended credit facility (ECF), on Sept. 10, 2019.
The conference was co-hosted by Togo’s minister of economy and finance, Sani Yaya, and Ivohasina Fizara Razafimahefa, head of the IMF delegation. On this occasion, the Fund said it is satisfied with Togo’s performances.
Public debt, though presently below 70% of GDP, according to official data, is expected to rise to 73% by the end of this year. This includes debts of State-owned companies (excluding those, the debt is forecasted at 70.9%.
Concerning growth, the Bretton Woods institution expects it will stand at 5.3% in 2019, and 5.5% in 2020, while the government projects it will reach 5.6%. Well, both parties agree that economic activity will sustain the dynamism it recorded last year.
The next review of the IMF’s ECF program with Togo will commence next December.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo: Fairgrounds organized across the country to provide certificate of nationality and Category A driving licenses
The Delegation for Informal Sector’s Organization (DOSI), in partnership with the citizenship directorate, organizes fairgrounds to provide a citizenship certificate to nationals who do not have one.
The campaign aims at “easing the obtention of this important document and most importantly deliverance of driving licenses to taxi-bike drivers.” Officially, the operation’s main concern is to reduce the alarming number of road accidents in Togo, especially those involving motorcyclists which are the most numerous.
“The fairgrounds which will take place from September 10 to October 2, also aims at helping users easily get category A driving licenses which has been made compulsory by public authorities,” sources at the DOSI reveal.
In Lomé, the campaign is taking place in front of Hotel 2 Février and will end on September 12. Then, from September 26 to 28, the fairgrounds will take place in Kara, and next in Sokodé, on Sept 30- Oct. 2.
Séna Akoda