Togo is working on ways to be influential in the African Continental Free Trade Area.

On July 23, Katchaki Batchassi, Director of External Trade in Togo, and some consultants, met with private sector actors in this framework.

On this occasion, the economic operators were asked what they expect from the Free Trade Area in terms of profit, and goods and services they intend to deliver within the zone. Responses will be used to draw a new strategy to ensure Togo’s competitiveness in the area and effectively launch the related agreement’s operational phase.

Ministries, government departments, the chamber of trade and industry, SMEs and SMIs, business associations, and many others should contribute to the elaboration of this strategy.

Séna Akoda

Established since 1998, the housing tax which is about to be reintroduced has sparked some controversies over the past few weeks. As a result, the Togolese Revenue Office (OTR) organized a press conference last Tuesday to explain the relevance of the tax.

The housing tax, authorities thus indicated, is collected from all households with a residence and reallocated, in full, to local communities to use the proceeds to meet needs of grassroot populations.

“The housing tax is managed by local authorities and will help new mayors develop their municipalities,” said the general commissioner of taxes, Adoyi Essowavana. “Depending on each person’s ability and the type of housing, it ranges between CFA2000 to CFA100,000,” the official added.

Some however are exempted from the tax. These include people less than 18 years old, retirees or more than 55 years old people, invalids, the needy, students and pupils, unemployed, diplomats, etc.  

“OTR is the only collector of the tax,” emphasizes Philippe Kokou Tchodiè, general commissioner of the OTR. The tax can be paid at the cashier of competent tax offices in given regions. “In line with decentralization, local communities will need resources to handle themselves,” explains Tchodiè. Therefore, any citizen refusing to pay the tax risks losing access to civil State services.

Octave A. Bruce

In Togo, the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) just expanded e-payment of social security contributions to Ecobank, Oragroup and Union togolaise de banque (UTB). This is after a pilot stage where this payment mode was enabled on Flooz, Tmoney and Banque togolaise pour le commerce et l’industrie (BTCI).

In addition to being able to pay the contributions on the CNSS e-platform, contributors can check payments made and print corresponding receipts.

The move translates the fund’s burning desire to dematerialize all formalities relative to contributions’ collection and related payments. It aligns with the government’s recent reforms to improve business climate in Togo, says Ingrid Awadé, Director General of CNSS.  

Séna Akoda

It’s effective. The Japanese firm Mitsubishi wishes to join the CIZO program in Togo.

On July 23, Yas Doida, Director of Mitsubishi Africa, after meeting with President Gnassingbe, declared: “We wish to contribute, as a Japanese firm, to the CIZO programme launched by the Head of State with a goal of achiving universal power coverage by 2030. We talked about the various off-grid solutions we wish to introduce in the country to ease access to a quality renewable source of energy, both in urban and rural areas.”

The CIZO is a scheme under which cheap solar kits are distributed across the country, its rural areas especially. It aims at profiting more than two million Togolese by 2022.    

Already active on the project are BBOXX, a British firm, and SOLEVA with local firm KYA-ENERGY offering training for the kits’ maintenance. Mitsubishi would thus be the third to join the scheme if talks are conclusive.

Séna Akoda

In Togo, Ecobank executives met yesterday with some young local entrepeneurs to discuss possibilities for the bank to provide them institutional and financial support in their ventures.

The meeting held in Lomé was chaired by the Ministry of Youth, Victoire Tomégah Dogbé. Also present were Mamady Diakité, MD Ecobank Togo, Paul harry Aithnard, Regional Director of Ecobank in WAEMU, and Kanka Malik Natchaba, Coordinator of CPES. 

Besides providing better support to entrepreneurs in the country, Ecobank wants to support the government’s vision for job and wealth creation leaning to its national development plan. The latter indeed intends to create 500,000 decent jobs by 2022.  

Octave A. Bruce

Komi Dovi Koudou, founder of Natuthe Kinkeliba, the startup that produces Kinkéliba tea, plans to start industrial production soon. To this end, the young Togolese entrepreneur intends to raise CFA124 million.

In an interview with Togo First, he declared: “We are mobilizing funds to acquire equipment, to produce more rapidly, and reduce related costs and subsequently get our Kinkéliba tea to all social classes.”

The funds should help the firm increase its production area to 20 hectares (from only two now) by 2025.

Komi Dovi Koudou added that he hopes parternships born from the recent Togo-EU economic forum will concretize, yielding investments for his business. He also urges Africans to promote his product, thus contribution to job and wealth creation.

Famous Japanese car dealer Mitsubishi Corporation has decided to enter the Togolese power market. The firm will provide off-grid solutions to local populations, those living in rural areas especially. The news was disclosed yesterday by Yas Doida, Head of the Company’s Branch in Africa, after meeting with Togolese Prime Minister, Sélom Klassou.

“We mostly discussed energy,” said the Japanese who added that they (Mistsubishi) want to provide power to all Togolese people by 2030. “There are many off-grid projects: it is possible to have efficient energy with lower means.”

Doida then lauded how Togolese authorities welcomed the project, stating that “it will begin this year and be conducted over the long term.”  

Mistsubishi’s move brings Togo closer to achieving its power transition to renewables. This initiative, let’s emphasize, adds to the CI-ZO which is carried out by British firm BBOXX and SOLEVA and also focuses on providing off-grid solutions across the country.

Séna Akoda

“Togo can count on the World Bank’s permanent support. We will continue backing its national development plan to foster inclusive growth, by improving business climate and boosting entrepreneurship in the country.” These were the words of Coralie Gevers, the new head of operations of the World Bank in Togo, during a visit in Lomé. 

The statement falls in line with a commitment by the Bretton Woods institution to align its partnership framework agreement with Togo’s 2018-2022 national development plan. Already, let’s recall, the World Bank has in the country a portfolio of 17 projects valued at $385 million.

During her visit, Gevers was at Africa Global Recycling (AGR) and the Lomé Container Terminal (LCT). The LCT was, it should be recalled, financed by the IFC, World Bank’s arm which finances the private sector. AGR, is a local startup which recently joined the IFC’s local champion program.

Séna Akoda

Announced last March, the third edition of the Made in Togo fair will take place on Friday, July 26, at the Centre Togolais des Expositions et Foires de Lomé (CETEF).

The upcoming event, which is sponsored by the ministry of trade and industry, should be the second largest of its kind after the International Fair of Lomé.

The theme picked for this edition is “Together, let’s valorize and consume local products.”

Overall, 300 exhibitors and nearly 15,000 visitors are expected at the fair which will close on August 5.

Octave A. Bruce