The measure announced by government for the provision of 20% public procurements to youths and women in Togo will be sector-based. This was revealed on Feb.14, 2018, by Zouréhatou Kassah-Traoré, managing director at the National Directorate for Public Procurement Control. This occured on the sidelines of the Mercredi de l’Entrepreneur (Entrepreneur’s Wednesday), a meeting where practical modalities were debated for the measure’s implementation.

“Call to tenders launched in a specific area will be accessible only to young applicants from this area”, explained the official.

In this regard, three areas were determined: Area 1 for entrepreneurs living in Lomé and surroundings, Area 2 for those living between Tsévié and Blitta and Area 3 for those between Sotouboua and Cinkassé.

For youths and women interested, the following platform was created to inform and also provide them with a registration form to benefit from the initiative : pjfe.dncmp-togo.com 

In line with its goal to make the country a logistics, financial and digital hub, the government of Togo plans to engage private sector more into digital development.

This is revealed in the government’s 2018-2022 strategic vision for digital sector. According to the document, the government wishes for private sector to contribute at least 40% of investment made in the sector starting from 2020.

The strategy revolves around four main axis which also will focus on 66 key projects, to which government expects private sector to greatly contribute.

The above-mentioned projects include: deploying 3G, 4G and satellite technologies, creating a digital platform to process applications for works on telecom infrastructures, or equipping broadcasting centers for DTT. In addition, a geographic information system (GIS) covering all network infrastructures should be developed and  other projects that are likely to boost Togo’s digital economy.

All these projects should, under the government’s predictions, help provide access to broadband internet to 90% of population and 95% of companies in Togo, by 2022.

Fiacre E. Kakpo

In Togo, the Power Sector Investment and Reform Project (PRISET) will provide more than 80,000 households and small businesses with a better access to a grid with greater voltage.

The project is expected to improve power sector’s institutional framework and make it more sustainable financially. This, through the assessment and update of the sector’s legal and regulatory framework; the introduction of a new tariff policy to ensure viability; reform, reinforcement and improvement of public services’ management.

PRISET, let’s note, is backed by the World Bank (CFA20 billion). It is thus the first investment project of the institution in Togo since the 90s.

In the framework of the project, Togo’s power utility – Compagnie Energie Electrique du Togo – issued a general procurement notice for acquisition of rolling stock, electricity meters, connection equipment, etc. A procurement expert, a supervisor and a manager are also being sought for. These will oversee and ensure the rehabilitation of Medium Voltage (MV)/Low Voltage (LV) substations, that of MV networks and the expansion of MV/LV networks.

Togo’s ministry of technical education and professional training has initiated last Tuesday, processes to validate the master plan for professional dual education system in the country.

Launched to efficiently tackle underemployment and unemployment, this system combines apprenticeships in a company, at a vocational school or at a teaching school (high school, college). It aims to provide a solution to the imbalance between courses offered in schools and requirements in the job market.

According to the deputy director of the statistics, research and planning office, at the above-mentioned ministry, Koku Adjaklo, “the validation of the master plan for professional dual education is a milestone in the search for sustainable solutions to the challenges of underemployment and unemployment”.

For now, the system which is backed by German cooperation GIZ, integrates only a limited number of professions. However, the government wishes to remedy this and expand it to all professional bodies. After the pilot stage in Tsévié, Kpalimé and Sokodé, the project will be extended to other towns such as Atakpamé, Kara and Dapaong.

Fiacre E. Kakpo

China will provide Togo with CFA8.5 billion, made up of concessional loans and grants, to support development projects in the country.

The related agreement was signed on Feb. 13, 2018, in the presence of China’s ambassador in Togo, Liu Yuxi, and Togo’s minister of economy and finance, Sani Yaya.

According to the ambassador, the new support is attributable to the many efforts made by the Togolese government to develop, over the past few years. “China is still committed to support the country in improving living standards of its populace”, Liu Yuxi said.

So far, China has invested in many development sectors in Togo, such as education, agriculture, heath, ICT and infrastructures.

Concerning the latter, the Middle Kingdom was the one that financed the construction of the new Togolese National Assembly. The building which cost CFA10.267 billion should be completed next April.

Fiacre E. Kakp

In 2016, Togo’s banking sector recorded a net profit of 47 billion CFA francs, a remarkable increase compared to CFA4 billion in 2014. This is shown in a data from the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO).

In details, losses recorded by the sector in 2016 stood at CFA5.6 billion as against an astounding CFA50 billion the year before.

Also improving were the banks’ total assets value which soared by 43.7%, from 2014, to CFA2,368 billion in 2016. Meanwhile, outstanding loans over the period surged by 26% reaching CFA1,171 billion.

Among factors that contributed to net profit’s rise are securities whose value almost doubled over the period (2014-2016) reviewed, from CFA348 billion to CFA655 billion.

Fiacre E. Kakpo

The World Bank plans to renew its support to developing countries, for disaster risk management. A decision spurred by the good results recorded under flood forecasts for the Oti River’s Basin, in Ghana and Togo.

The news was disclosed by Koffi Hounkpé, main disaster risk management expert at the World Bank, during a meeting on flood forecasts in the Volta Basin. The Bretton Woods institution has in fact lauded progress made in this framework.

Truly, World Bank, through its financial support has helped develop and test a flood early warning system baptized “FEWS Oti”, during flooding period in 2017. “This system helped produce precise data on water levels at the Oti basin, Northern Togo-Ghana, one or two days ahead of flooding”, said a press statement released after the meeting held on Feb 9-10, 2018, in Lomé.

This enabled a better coordination while assisting and rescuing flooded communities.

By renewing its technical and financial support, the World Bank aims at reinforcing achievements it made so far, thereby mitigating tragic incidents caused by floods.

To boost investment, employment and inclusive growth in its partnering nations, in Africa especially, the European Union has during the last AU-EU summit launched its External Investment Plan (EIP).

On February 12, 2018, the European institution in effect presented this plan to Togolese political and administrative authorities, as well as to economic operators.

On this occasion, Eric Galley, representing the Business Climate Cell urged Togolese economic operators to submit projects likely to benefit from EU’s plan. These projects should however respond to Togo’s needs.

Commenting on the newly launched plan, Mrs. Martins-Barreira, head of the EU’s delegation in Togo said: “EIP is tailored to specific needs of partnering States”. Meanwhile, Antonio Capone, in charge of infrastructures and environment at the same delegation said EIP should positively impact the Togolese economy, through job creation notably. In this regard, he invited all concerned parties to play their part.

EIP prioritizes socio-economic sectors and intends to support small businesses, providing them funding to create decent jobs.