Togo First
AFD disburses XOF3 billion to expand health insurance coverage across WAEMU
The French Development Agency (Agence Française de Developpement –AFD) has granted WAEMU States a subsidy of XOF3.182 billion to improve access to healthcare in the region.
On April 25, the French institution and the WAEMU commission signed the first amendment of the financing agreement for the health insurance expansion program (PACRM) within the Union. The signing thus puts back into motion this project which had been halted due to lack of funds.
In effect, the PACRM will assess conditions under which health insurers can help improve health insurance coverage of unemployed individuals. It will also support institutional and organizational frameworks that are appropriate for the concerned expansion, with a key focus on improving equity and poorest and most vulnerable populations.
The PACRM was launched on May 19, 2011 and required investment for the project was valued at €3,537,000. Unfortunately, only 18% of this amount was mobilized, hence halting the project’s advancement.
Séna Akoda
Togo: In 12 months, a military clothing factory will open near Lomé
Soon, Togo will have a military clothing and equipment factory. The first stone for this facility was laid by President Faure Gnassingbé himself on Thursday.
Located in Adétikopé (15km north of Lomé), the facility will be built by Canadian firm Logistik Unicorps, which makes and supplies military and industrial clothing and equipment and is active in Australia, Europe and the Middle-East. Reliable sources indicate that the plant will cost more than $10 million (about XOF6 billion) and will be completed in five years.
Besides military clothing, professional attire for industrial, mining, agricultural firms, hospitals and schools will also be manufactured at the factory, all using local input. A total of 2000 jobs (500 direct) are expected to be created with this project.
Togo: A new plastic products plant opens in Tsévié
new plastic products plant was inaugurated by President Gnassingbé yesterday. The infrastructure is in Tsévié (about 37km from Lomé), in the Zio prefecture.
Owned by Africa Plastic Technology, a firm based in the same area, the factory cost XOF15 billion. In detail, polyvinyl chloride or PVC tubes (pressure tubes, sheating tubes for telephonic cables, high-density polyethylene pipes for drinking water adduction) will be manufactured there.
Nearly 200 direct and 500 indirect jobs will be created in the framework of this project.
Earlier the same day, an organic pineapple juice factory was also inaugurated. Both facilities were inaugurated under the celebrations of Togo’s 59th independence anniversary.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
President Gnassingbé inaugurates a pineapple-processing factory in Zio prefecture
On April 25, President Gnassingbé inaugurated in Gbatopé (Zio prefecture), a pineapple processing factory.
Baptized Jus Délice, the facility will help the country process the fruit and make this sector more competitive. More than eight tons of pineapple per day will be processed into organic juice. This output is to be exported to Europe, according to the ministry of agriculture.
Besides improving producers’ revenues and living standards, many jobs will be created in the process.
To ensure that the target output is reached, the ministry of agriculture will organize producers and make sure standards relating to quality and productivity are met. Also, the ministry will help condition the transformation units and commit to the respect of sanitary norms.
Jus Délice, let’s recall, benefited from a XOF1.7 billion financing from the Moringa Fund back in May last year.
Séna Akoda
Togo launches its first “Tomorrow Connected Community” in Yoto prefecture
Togo launched April 23 in Siké-Afidegnon, in the Yoto prefecture, the pilot stage of the “Tomorrow Connected Community” project, a project inspired from Rwanda’s “Tomorrow rural home” project. The new project leverages the technology-energy combo to benefit Togolese communities.
It is steered by BBOXX, just like the CIZO, EDF, mobile operators Togocel and Moov, and power utility CEET. In its framework, a 30KVA mini solar plant will be set up to power one of the relay towers of Togocom in Sikpé-Afidegnan. The facility, in parallel, provides the people of this village, and surrounding localities, electricity, but also internet and derived services. Previously, it should be noted, these communities depended on Benin’s network.
“300 families, or more than 4,000 people, live in this village situated in the Southern part of the country. Soon, it will rely on solar as source of power and have access to various services and products, like clean energies to cook, internet and water pumps,” BBOXX declared.
For its part, authorities said: “The Sikpé-Afidegnon village is only the first and others will benefit from this major project. Overall, more than 315 localities across the country’s five regions will soon be electrified in line with our national electrification strategy, with similar mini solar plants built and operated by private actors.”
Concerning the Tomorrow Connected Community, it is connected to a mini-grid developed by General Electric to meet high power consumption needs, as well as to BBOXX’s domestic solar systems to power households and SMEs. It is fully manageable remotely and all related services (power and internet) will be paid for via mobile money.
Last June, Togo adopted a national electrification strategy which aims at raising its rate of electrification to 50% in 2020, 75% in 2025 and 100% in 2030, from a little more than 40% currently. To reach this goal, Lomé intends to rely on clean power sources and expand the CEET’s network.
Togo : Parliament approves adhesion to agreement for the creation of the Africa Trade Insurance Agency
On Wednesday, April 24, Togo’s parliament gave its approval for the country’s adhesion to the agreement to create the Africa Trade Insurance Agency.
The country is now set to enjoy the various advantages derived from the agreement. For example, poverty will be reduced, leveraging a partnership with other African countries, multilateral development institutions and private sector.
The Trade Insurance Agency promotes insurance, co-insurance, reassurance, all to foster trade across the continent. The agreement for its establishment covers the sectors of trade, investment and other productive activities.
According to Togo’s minister of economy and finances, Sani Yaya, “adhering to the agreement aligns with the PND which aims at making Togo a more attractive country, with a strong, resilient, sustainable and inclusive economy, one that will enhance its people’s welfare.”
Séna Akoda
China provides Togo a new administrative center valued at XOF18 billion
Yesterday, April 24, President Gnassingbé inaugurated, in the presence of the Chinese ambassador, the new administrative services center provided by China.
Located in the Lomé II area, near the new presidential office, the building which cost XOF18 billion will host three ministries, namely those of health, agriculture and primary and secondary education. Built on a land of about 20,000 m², it will have 327 modern offices, a 300-seat conference hall and a cafeteria with a VIP space.
The building also has an underground parking lot which can receive up to 62 cars, an outdoor parking space (with a capacity of 120 cars) and a bike parking space. The complex can host 1,200 people.
Built by Chinese firm CRBC, the administrative center aims at improving work conditions and environment of public servants. Launched on August 30, 2016, the project was completed January 2019, said Meng Shuangnai, head of the project.
Séna Akoda
Togo: President Gnassingbé inaugurates new fishing port in Gbetsogbe-Baguida
Togo’s new fishing port, in Gbetsogbe-Baguida (about 10km from Lomé), is officially operational.
It was inaugurated by President Gnassingbé yesterday, as part of activities planned in line with the independence celebrations.
The port was co-financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Togolese State, official sources indicate. The former provided XOF14.46 billion and the latter XOF6.23 billion. Construction works began in August 2017.
With a capacity of 300 barks, the new facility should compensate for the 30% reduction of the old fishing port’s basin, as well as contraction of the bark-parking space resulting from works to boost capacities of the port of Lomé.
With the new port, 8,000 jobs should be consolidated and 5,000 jobs, direct and indirect, created.
Moreover, according to the ministry of agriculture, animal production and fishery, the infrastructure will foster the integration of artisanal fishing sales to the blue economy, improve quality of derived products and revenues of related actors, among others.
Togo’s annual fishery output is expected to rise to 25,000 tons. The sub-sector let it be recalled, represents about 4% of the country’s agricultural GDP and 1% of its total GDP.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Businesswomen in West Africa lose 38% of their profits and 34% of their monthly revenues (World Bank)
Businesswomen in West Africa lose 38% of their profits and 34% of their monthly turnover, compared to their male counterparts. This was revealed in a recent study by the World Bank discussed at the first-ever regional financing initiative in support of businesswomen, in Côte d’Ivoire.
The situation is due to some challenges and barriers preventing women from fully participating in the economy. These include for example “access to financing, markets, technology and support or capacity-strengthening programmes.”
During the regional initiative a joint call-to-action targeting public and private actors was issued so that significant reforms and measures are rapidly taken to pull down barriers hindering the emergence of businesswomen.
In addition, governments were urged to initiate political and regulatory reforms to improve these women’s access to financial services, public markets and infrastructures related to the digital economy. Also, the meeting’s participants asked for roadblocks impairing the activity and mobility of businesswomen as well as equal ownership rights to be quickly removed.
In this framework, Togo plans to have, by 2020, 28% of women-entrepreneurs and provide access to credit to 44% of its women population.
Séna Akoda
President Gnassingbé inaugurates a new concrete-reinforcing rods factory in Kara
On April 23, 2019, President Faure Gnassingbé inaugurated a new concrete-reinforcing rods factory in Kara, Northern Togo.
The facility which is estimated to have cost CFA4.1 billion spans five hectares in the Kara free zone. Baptized Steel Cube Togo (SCT), it was built by Indian firm HCURE IMPEX LLP. According to Agence togolaise de presse (ATOP), the plant has a production capacity of 3,000 tons per month and uses 4,500 tons of scrap metal; 70% of its production will be exported. It will create 400 direct jobs and 800 indirect ones.
Tiwari N'ripandra Oumar, MD Steel Cube Togo, said HCURE IMPEX LLP plans to build a paper package factory in Togo.
The inauguration took place in the framework of the upcoming Togolese independence anniversary next April 27. More inaugurations and launches will follow in the period.