Togo’s service sector continues to strengthen its role in the national economy. Between 2022 and 2024, its contribution to GDP rose from 61.3% to 61.9%, confirming services as a key driver of growth in the West African nation. The figures were reported in the Central Bank of West African States’ (BCEAO) quarterly bulletin for the second quarter of 2025.

This growth in services coincided with a slight contraction in the primary sector, down from 18.7% to 18%, while the secondary sector remained stable at around 20%. As a result, the Togolese economy now relies mainly on trade, transport, telecommunications, and financial services. This reflects ongoing urbanization and digital transformation, particularly in Lomé and other major cities.

One of the Most Service-Oriented Economies in WAEMU

Togo has one of the most service-oriented economies in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). In 2024, the service sector accounted for 61.9% of GDP, compared with 58.4% in Benin, 55% in Burkina Faso, and 39.6% in Senegal. Only Côte d’Ivoire, at 62.3%, ranked slightly higher, consistent with its status as the Union’s leading service economy. The WAEMU average stood at 56.2%.

For example, Togo alone generated nearly 30% of all transport service revenues within the Union in 2024. The challenge now is to foster industrial and agricultural transformation to achieve more balanced and sustainable growth.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Mayors and deputy mayors elected in Togo’s recent municipal elections will begin assuming office on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025.

According to the Ministry of Territorial Administration, handover ceremonies will be held across the country’s 117 municipalities from Nov. 12 to 15, under the supervision of local prefects.

This marks the official renewal of municipal leadership across the country. The newly elected officials will serve six-year terms, working with municipal councilors to drive local development. They are also expected to strengthen citizen participation and promote transparency in local governance.

This transfer of authority continues the decentralization process launched by the Togolese government to make local administration more accessible to citizens.

Launched with the 2019 municipal elections following a three-decade hiatus, the process reflects the authorities’ commitment to strengthening local democracy and promoting balanced regional development.

Esaïe Edoh

Representatives of the five member states of the Conseil de l'Entente (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, and Togo) met in Lomé late last week for the 23rd ordinary session of the Council of Ministers. The officials reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and exploring new funding mechanisms for joint projects.

Discussions, chaired by Togolese Foreign Minister Prof. Robert Dussey, focused on the 2024 annual performance report, the accounts for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, and the 2026 Annual Performance Project (PAP), budgeted at 7.7 billion XOF.

Facing a budget shortfall of 434 million XOF, the Council aims to mobilize both domestic and external financing to maintain progress on regional projects. Particular attention was given to reforming the Tranche Commune Entente (TCE), developed under a renewed partnership between the Council and member states’ national lotteries. The initiative seeks to secure alternative and sustainable funding for regional programs.

“This session represents an important step toward developing innovative financing mechanisms to strengthen the Council’s financial autonomy,” said Delegate Minister Adama Dosso.

The ministers also expressed solidarity with Burkina Faso and Niger, which continue to face terrorist threats, and called for sustained political dialogue to preserve stability and cohesion within the Entente region. The Council of the Entente was founded in 1959.

R.E.D

Technical sessions for the 11th Annual Review of WAEMU reforms and programs began in Lomé on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. The review, which runs until Nov. 12, will assess Togo’s implementation of WAEMU community reforms for the 2025 fiscal year.

The review is part of WAEMU’s monitoring framework, designed to track how member states are applying the Union’s decisions and to identify ongoing challenges. It will focus on gathering concrete evidence of how community policies and projects are being implemented, to ensure transparent reporting to WAEMU’s governing bodies in 2026.

The review uses the evaluation framework adopted in Dakar earlier this year. The findings, to be summarized in a joint memorandum, will highlight Togo’s performance in implementing the 2025 reforms. The resulting recommendations will be sent to the relevant ministries to help address the challenges identified.

According to Alioune Sène, WAEMU’s Resident Representative in Togo, the country has consistently worked to meet its regional commitments. During the previous review, conducted in 2024, Togo recorded an average reform implementation rate of 77.89%, up from 76% in 2023.

Esaïe Edoh 

Togo’s Maritime Regional Council adopted a new development roadmap late last week, outlining key priorities and actions to boost the region’s growth between 2025 and 2027. The initiatives identified in the plan will require an estimated 4 billion XOF in total funding.

The strategy emphasizes the Maritime region’s economic and human potential while identifying the main challenges that need to be addressed to strengthen its competitiveness. The roadmap focuses on three priority areas: enhancing human capital and social inclusion, promoting entrepreneurship and economic activity, and improving infrastructure and living conditions.

Once implemented, the plan is expected to improve residents’ living standards through targeted measures in sectors such as water and sanitation, agriculture, crafts, and trade.

According to Taïrou Bagbiegue, Governor of the Maritime Region, the roadmap is designed to serve as a reference tool for local development. “It will act as a catalyst for change and a guide for public action in the region,” he said.

Meanwhile, a broader Regional Development Plan (PDR) is nearing completion. It is expected to better coordinate the initiatives stemming from the roadmap and define new structural projects to support the sustainable development of the Maritime region.

Esaïe Edoh

Togo and Algeria are preparing to strengthen economic cooperation, particularly in agribusiness, energy, logistics, and services. The initiative is being led by the Togo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI-Togo) and the Algerian Employers’ Organization (OPA), which seek to build a structured partnership between the two countries’ private sectors.

Potential areas of collaboration were discussed at a meeting in Lomé last week between the two organizations. The Algerian delegation, headed by OPA President Sidi Saïd, met with CCI-Togo President José Kwassi Syemenouh to review investment conditions in Togo and the support mechanisms available to help foreign businesses establish and expand operations.

The two sides plan to leverage existing industrial zones, connect private sector actors, promote cross-investment, and create a more competitive business climate. These efforts are aimed at deepening trade and economic ties between Lomé and Algiers.

According to United Nations Comtrade data, trade between the two nations remains limited. In 2024, Togo’s exports to Algeria were valued at around $506,000, while imports from Algeria totaled nearly $2 million.

As part of ongoing efforts to boost bilateral relations, both governments began talks almost four years ago on lifting diplomatic and service visa requirements and establishing an Algerian-Togolese Business Council to encourage cross-border investment.

Esaïe Edoh

Togo’s cereal production for the 2024-2025 season totaled 1.53 million tons, according to recent data from the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO). The figure represents a slight decline from the 1.56 million tons recorded the previous year, ending five consecutive years of growth.

Between 2019 and 2024, national cereal output rose from 1.26 million tons to 1.56 million tons, an average annual growth rate of 4.3%. Maize remains Togo’s main cereal crop, followed by paddy rice, millet, and sorghum, all largely grown for domestic consumption.

This long-term growth reflects government initiatives to improve access to farm inputs and modernize production methods. For the 2025-2026 season, authorities plan to build on these gains by providing 85,000 tons of fertilizer, up from nearly 78,000 tons the year before. About 40% of the supply will go to the Savanes region, which has the country’s highest agricultural needs.

The support program also includes the distribution of improved crop seeds adapted to local climate conditions to help boost smallholder productivity. Small-scale farmers remain the backbone of national production and play a central role in food security.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togo alone accounted for 29.5% of total transport service revenue generated across the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) in 2024.

That represents nearly a third of the regional total, according to the latest foreign trade report from the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO). Côte d’Ivoire followed closely, capturing 26.7% of the sector’s revenue.

Transport services, which include road, maritime and air activities, make up a key part of the Union’s trade in services. However, the sector’s overall share of total service exports dropped to 19.4% in 2024, down from 21.6% in 2023. The decline was driven by weaker demand and lower revenue, which fell from 670.3 billion XOF to 627.1 billion XOF ($1.02 billion).

Togo’s market dominance is primarily attributed to the central role of the Autonomous Port of Lomé, a major maritime import hub for the sub-region. The port serves several landlocked countries, including Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali. Land and sea transport services remain the primary revenue drivers, fueled by port logistics and international transit.

Transport services rank second among the Union’s service exports, behind tourism, which accounts for 36.1% of the total.

According to BCEAO data, Togo’s transport service exports reached 185.1 billion XOF ($301.7 million) in 2024. This reflects steady growth between 2020 and 2024, rising nearly 77% over five years from 104.4 billion XOF. However, growth leveled off between 2023 and 2024, with only a slight increase of 0.7 billion XOF.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi