On July 31, Kodjo Adedze, minister of trade, industry and private sector development, presented a note relative to the National Quality Policy (PNQ), during the ministers’ council held that day.

The move is good news for the policy’s adoption. The latter, let’s indicate, aims at “establishing an appropriate framework for the development and functioning of a reliable, pertinent and efficient quality system that will contribute to the successful achievement of goals set under the national development plan (PND).”

In effect, the projected policy should help assess, standardize and test various quality management strategies, in addition to evaluating standards relative to quality of products circulating in the country, their certification and accreditation. These would ensure access of local products to both the international and regional markets, as well as improve on their competitiveness.

Séna Akoda

A 30 MW solar power plant will be established in Blitta, about 267km from Lomé. The project was announced last Wednesday during a ministers’ council.

The infrastructure will help reduce our country’s power dependency and therefore help in achieving our national development plan (PND),” the statement from the council indicates.

“The ‘declaration d’utilité publique’ for the project is a prerequisite,” said the authorities, while highlighting “the importance of both the project and the need to proceed to the fair and compensated expropriation of residents on the concerned site.”

Once built, this plant would be the second with a capacity of 30MW to be constructed in Togo. The first will be built in Dapaong and is financed by the Abu Dhabi Fund and AMEA POWER.

Let’s recall that under its 2030 universal power coverage plan, Togo plans to build four PV solar power plants with a respective capacity of 30MW.

Séna Akoda

The Kara Investment Fund will invest XOF5 billion in the agribusiness sector, in Togo. This was revealed last Friday by the fund’s head, Armand Guy Zounguéré-Sokambi, during a meeting with Prime Minister, Komi Sélom Klassou.

According to Aristide Agbossoumonde, head of the agricultural financing incentive mechanism (MIFA), the move was spurred by the improvement of the local business climate. “There are many forums that do not yield results ; but…the improvement of the business climate sent a great signal to investment funds like us.”

This new partnership should pave the way for good perspectives for Togolese agribusiness which falls under the second axis of the national development plan (PND 2018-2022).

Besides agribusiness, the Kara Fund eyes the infrastructure and renewables sectors.

Séna Akoda

The government of Togo recently provided Industrie Commerce Agrochimie Investissement (ICA INVEST) a large-scale exploitation license for the clay deposit of Ledjoblibo. The latter is situated at Dankpen (417km from Lomé), in the Kara region.

Exploiting the deposit should improve the State’s mining revenues, create jobs and wealth in the area concerned.

For its part, ICA INVEST, under its social and environmental responsibility, will contribute to local and regional development by building socioeconomic and community infrastructures. This is a key component of the country’s Mining Governance and Development Project (PDGM), to reduce conflicts between mining firms and residents of mining areas (as the firms fail to be socially and environmentally responsible enough).

Séna Akoda

From 2008 to date, school feeding in Togo cost XOF19.7 billion. The information comes from the summary of the ministers’ council held last Wednesday.

The funds were invested in the school canteens project which is co-financed by the World Bank (XOF13.7 billion) and the Togolese government (XOF6 billion). This project falls under a larger scheme known as the Social nets and community development programme (PDC Plus).

The school canteens project recorded a “remarkable success”, according to authorities, helping “feed 25% of pupils living in the country’s most vulnerable areas.” Yet, challenges remain and at the recent ministers’ council, officials stressed on the need to secure more funds to establish a legal framework that would ensure an efficient monitoring of the initiative.

Séna Akoda

In line with the country’s new agricultural policy, the national school of agriculture of Tové (INFA) will be reorganized. A decree was issued to this end on July 24 during a ministers’ council.

This reform follows an audit that showed that INFA has some shortcomings, at the organizational and operational levels. This reorgarnization should in effect ensure that the school produces human resources that can meet job market standards.

Regarding the government’s new agricultural policy, it aims at fostering “a modern, sustainable agriculture, with a high added value enhancing food security, in both the country and the region, a strong, inclusive and competitive economy that will create decent and stable jobs by 2030.”  

Let it be noted that under the second axis of its 2018-2022 national development plan, the Togolese government intends to make agriculture a driver of economic growth. As a result, this sector has been recording deep transformations and attracting massive investments.

Séna Akoda

Togo’s Minister of foreign affairs, Robert Dussey, met with his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian yesterday in Paris. The two discussed many issues including talks regarding a new Cotonou Agreement post-2020, in line with partnership between countries of African, the Carribean and Pacific and the European Union (ACP-UE).

According to the French diplomacy, the talks are advancing and reaching a decisive stage. Let’s recall that it is the Togolese diplomacy that has been appointed as chief negotiator of the talks for ACP countries.

Besides the new Cotonou agreement, the two officials talked about possibilities for bilateral cooperation in education, professional training, urban development and health. Le Drian especially put emphasis on France’s support for initiatives profiting the youth.

Among these are PROFAMED-Togo, a project in which France injected CFA320 million over two years. This initiative benefits local journalists and other media personalities. 

Séna Akoda