Togo’s ministry of transports and infrastructures, under 2018 State budget, will rehabilitate 67km of road in the Tchamba prefecture. This town is located 35km east of Sokodé, the capital of the central region.   

A call to tender was launched for the project. According to a credible source, projected works are divided into four lots:

• First lot concerns the Tchamba-Alibi, Dagma-Katakpani and Laréni-Akpoa segments which span a total 12.9 km.
• Second lot concerns 18.6km-long Alibi 1- Kountangoli-Agbawiliga road.
• Third lot will go from Agbawiliga to Hézoudè, via Kofordia. This axis extends over 17km.
• The fourth lot targets 18.1km-long Krikri-Afem Boussou axis.

Works include opening, filling, suppressing and proceeding to deep reshaping of some key zones along some rural roads.

Firms selected to carry out the project will have six months to deliver.

Séna Akoda

Results of Togo's fifth edition of macroeconomic forecast survey were released on May 9, 2018.

The study for which 200 private firms were used as sample reveals that banks greatly contributed to private sector’s investments in 2017. Indeed, this contribution soared from 24.5% in 2016 to 44.7% in 2017.

Meanwhile funding of investments on equity slumped, from 72.9% in 2016 to 51.6 in 2017. As for investments themselves, they contracted also by 18.6% over the period.

According to the survey which assessed the firms’ turnover, this value grew by 2%. However, this performance is lower than 2016’s, knowingly +3.3%.

Fiacre E. Kakpo

On May 8, Togo’s government, during a council of ministers, adopted a bill for code of cinema and motion picture.

The country wants thereby to build a true film and animation industry while focusing on the protection and valorization of local culture, and cinema particularly.

The movie industry that will arise from this new code should, according to authorities, prioritize local instead of foreign content as it “conveys mindsets and actions that have nothing in common with local culture but gradually substitutes it”. This gives rise to a serious cultural identity issue, the ministers’ council said.

The new code falls under government’s strategy to develop a favorable legal and economic framework for the growth of the movie industry in Togo. Indeed, the country wants to boost investment in this sector and subsequently create jobs across all its regions, “leveraging on qualitative and quantitative production of audiovisual and cinematographic content”.

Fiacre E. Kakpo

Cina Lawson, Togo’s minister of posts and digital economy, just got approval to sign decrees to increase the duration and coverage area for 2G and 3G licenses awarded to Togocel and Moov. Thus, the licenses are valid till 2032.

Additionally, the minister was allowed to award the two operators 4G licenses, in line with digital strategy.

The measure aligns with the government’s objective to provide populations with high-speed 4G connectivity (with a penetration rate of 40% by 2022) and rapidly secure funds needed under its 2018 budget law.

This decision is a major milestone for Lomé which implements reforms to improve public finances, amid political tensions.

Fiacre E. kakpo

Togolese subsidiary of Vinci Sogea-Satom won a contract of more than CFA9 billion falling in line with a program that aims to tackle and prevent flooding. The latter was launched last April 24^th.

Under the new contract, the construction firm will conduct road development and rehabilitation in the Togblékopé district, which is in the Agoè prefecture, 5km from Lomé, the capital.

Concretely, works include draining structures such as gutters, water evacuation pipes, water collectors and retention basins. This project will also lead to construction of access roads, schools, market sheds, football fields, and coating.

The firm has 12 months to complete these works. Let it be recalled last month, Sogea-Saton landed a €72 million contract to design and build the main stadium of Yamoussoukro, in Côte d’Ivoire.

 Fiacre E. Kakpo

The West African Development Bank (BOAD) and ECOWAS’ Investment Bank (BIDC) will finance a project to build and asphalt a 30-km road along N°17 national route.

International call to tender states that BOAD will contribute 73% of the needed financing. Remaining part will be covered by BIDC.

Works will be conducted on Nali-Sali axis located in the Oti prefecture. They will fall under a more global project to build and asphalt the N°17 national route with goes from Katchamba (Dankpen prefecture) and Sadori (Oti), the document indicates.

The project would make traffic along the national axis more fluid.

Séna Akoda

Agricultural Sector Support Programme (PASA) has helped boost cash crop yields in Togo. From 2014 to 2017, the scheme enabled the development of more than 45,000 ha of coffee and cocoa plantations. This was disclosed by a high official of the sector, during the setting up of an anti-fire committee in Wawa prefecture.

Another element that helped increase area dedicated to cocoa and coffee farming was the project to support export-oriented crops. The latter is the second sub-component of the national programme for agriculture investment and food security which is in its first phase. The programme’s achievements were however impaired by wildfires, among others.

This explains why an anti-fire committee is being set. This unit will draw strategies to mitigate risks of wildfire and other challenges threatening to reduce areas dedicated to cash crop. In line with this objective, sensitization and training sessions will be organized. 

Séna Akoda

Canal + Togo has increased its social capital, we learned from a credible source. The capital will increase from CFA10 million to 14.3 million, through the issuance of 430 new shares valued at CFA10000 each.

Through this move, Canal +, parent company of Canal + Togo, wishes to grow its presence in Togo.

Prior to this decision, various appointments were made within the Togolese unit’s management. It got a new chairman in the name of Richard Aquereburu, who replaces David Mignot following his resignation. Similarly, Franck Carpentier, the manager who also resigned, was replaced by Anne-Sophie Goblet.

Another decision concerns the transfer of the company’s headquarters from 27 rue Kha (former rue Maréchal Bugeaud) to 202 bis Boulevard Circular.

Séna Akoda