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

After a first edition that met their expectations, Togo and Senegal are preparing for another edition of the Senegal-Togo Economic and Trade Days.

Themed “Economic development through South-South trade”, the event will host B2B meetings, conferences, exhibitions, sales, etc.

During the first edition, it was revealed that trade between the two West African nations is still very weak. Indeed, according to Bineta Ba-Samba, Senegal’s ambassador to Togo, volume of goods exported by Senegal to Togo represents 1.6% of the nation’s overall exports. Meanwhile, for Togo, this figure is estimated at barely 0.6%.

While the previous edition was held in Dakar, the second will take place in Lomé, from May 14 to 16, 2018, according to Togo’s chamber of commerce and industry.

Séna Akoda

Since 2012, Germany has granted Togo CFA126.7 billion, non-reimbursable. This was reported by local media Togo Presse May 3, 2018, following a meeting between Togolese and German officials in Lomé, on April 25-26.

During the meeting, participants were to assess cooperation and development programmes between both countries.  The monies mentioned above was to improve education, youth employment, health, energy, enhance agricultural and rural development, among others.

Besides these funds, Togo also received significant support from German public bank, KfW, and GIZ.

Mostly, projects that benefited most from German investments are those for renewable energies, rural electrification and extension of Lomé’s power network.

Séna Akoda

On May 3, EU’s ambassador to Togo, Cristina Martins Barrera, submitted the litigant’s rights and obligations guide to the Supreme Judicial Council. This was ahead of the start of campaign to raise awareness about the document.

On this occasion, the EU representative put an emphasis on the correlation between a reliable justice system and investments, saying: “A country with a reliable justice system attracts investments. It fosters economic growth”.

Truly, according to legal experts, judicial and legal security is a key component of business environment. It plays a major role in decision-taking process at the investor’s level.

Affirmations that explain why Togo’s Business Climate Cell focuses on legal system in regards to the coordination of reforms aimed at making the nation more attractive. Various measures implemented in this framework include creation of ordinary and special commercial chambers. 

Séna Akoda