• India and Togo plan to expand their partnership into cultural cooperation, with upcoming projects promoting exchanges between artists from both nations.
• The initiative strengthens Togo’s South-South diplomacy and India’s soft power strategy in West Africa.
• India remains among Togo’s top three trading partners and ranked second among Lomé’s export clients in Q2 2025.

Togo and India plan to expand their partnership to include cultural collaboration, according to the Indian ambassador to Togo, Shri Sayed Razi. The announcement came during the third edition of the Indian Festival held in Lomé on Sunday, October 12, 2025.

The diplomat said both countries, which already enjoy strong cooperation in several sectors, aim to give “a new dimension” to their relations by building structured cultural exchanges. “Artists and cultural actors from India will come to discover what is being done in Togo, and vice versa. This will help establish lasting cooperation in the cultural field,” Ambassador Razi said.

Planned projects will include exchange programs and residencies for artists from both countries. Shri Sayed Razi highlighted that both India and Togo possess exceptional cultural richness. He said their “proximity in diversity” could transform culture into a source of economic development for both nations.

This approach aligns with Togo’s broader diplomatic strategy of promoting South-South cooperation. By engaging with India — an emerging global power with a strong cultural identity — Togo seeks to enhance its visibility in Asia through the promotion of its arts, music, fashion, and gastronomy.

For India, this initiative fits within its soft power strategy. By promoting its language, traditions, and cultural values in Togo, New Delhi aims to strengthen its influence in West Africa. The move also reinforces its growing presence on the continent, where it competes with China and other global actors for economic and cultural influence.

Officials from both countries’ ministries of culture are expected to meet soon to outline specific cooperation frameworks and funding mechanisms for the new initiatives.

Beyond culture, India remains a key economic partner for Togo. The South Asian nation consistently ranks among Lomé’s top three trading partners. In the second quarter of 2025, India was Togo’s second-largest export client, underscoring the depth of bilateral economic relations.

This article was initially published in French by Esaie Edoh

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

Togo and Cuba plan to broaden their cooperation to include biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and agriculture. The topics were discussed in Lomé on Oct. 9, 2025, during a visit by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla.

“We discussed potential partnerships in the biomedical, pharmaceutical and agricultural areas,” Rodriguez said after talks with Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé and Foreign Minister Robert Dussey.

Cuba is known for its expertise in these sectors. The island has a highly developed biotech and pharmaceutical industry, with strong capacity for the research, development and production of vaccines and medicines. With Cuban support, Togo could eventually produce some essential medicines or vaccines locally, cutting costs, delays and import risks.

In agriculture, Cuba has developed biotechnologies for crop improvement and livestock, technologies that could bolster Togo’s agricultural strategy, a key driver of economic growth.

This expansion builds on an already active partnership between Lomé and Havana in health, education, tourism and investment. Cuban doctors have worked in Togolese hospitals and clinics for years, and many Togolese students study in Cuba on scholarships.

Esaïe Edoh

• Togo received three new ambassadors from the United Kingdom, the Philippines and Italy on October 8, 2025.
• The UK plans to expand trade and investment in finance, maritime logistics and infrastructure.
• The Philippines and Italy aim to boost cooperation in transport, security, and cultural development.

Togo has welcomed three new ambassadors representing the United Kingdom, the Philippines, and Italy, as part of its ongoing efforts to diversify diplomatic and economic partnerships.

President Jean-Lucien Kwassi Lanyo Savi de Tové received the diplomats on October 8, 2025, as they presented their credentials during a ceremony in Lomé.

British ambassador Robert John Marshall said the UK seeks to deepen economic and commercial cooperation with Togo. He emphasized a focus on private investment and job creation, aligning with Lomé’s broader strategy to diversify funding sources.

“The United Kingdom is already active in finance and maritime logistics,” Marshall said, noting that London could increase participation in infrastructure and services projects. This renewed engagement comes as Togo positions itself as a growing logistics and investment hub in West Africa.

From Asia, Mersole Jala Mellejor, the new ambassador of the Philippines, said his mandate will focus on strengthening collaboration in air and maritime transport as well as logistics. Both countries, he added, share complementary advantages in these sectors.

Manila, a leading player in Southeast Asia’s port services industry, could assist Lomé in consolidating its status as a regional logistics hub, leveraging its port of Lomé as a gateway for regional trade.

Italy’s new envoy, Laura Ranali, said Rome aims to reinforce bilateral relations with Lomé in security cooperation, economic development, and cultural exchange. Her statement reflects Italy’s recent push to expand its footprint across West Africa through strategic and people-centered partnerships.

For Togo, these new appointments represent an opportunity to sustain its policy of partnership diversification and international engagement.

R.E.D

• The Russian State Duma ratified a military cooperation agreement with Togo on October 7, 2025, providing a formal legal framework for bilateral defense collaboration.
• The agreement includes joint exercises, training of Togolese military personnel, and provisions for emergency medical assistance.
• The partnership supports Togo’s strategic diversification of defense alliances amid rising armed attacks in the north and jihadist pressure in the Sahel.

The Russian State Duma approved the ratification of a military cooperation agreement with Togo on October 7, 2025. The agreement establishes a formal legal framework to strengthen bilateral collaboration in defense, military training, and security information exchange.

The accord specifies funding arrangements, conditions for joint missions, and confidentiality safeguards. It also outlines joint exercises, training programs for Togolese personnel, and free emergency medical assistance for military contingencies.

For Moscow, the agreement fits into a broader strategy of expanding its security footprint in Africa, complementing similar accords with Cameroon, São Tomé and Príncipe, and the Central African Republic.

Togo seeks to diversify defense partnerships to strengthen operational capabilities amid increased armed attacks in northern regions and ongoing jihadist threats in the Sahel. The government aims to enhance its strategic autonomy while leveraging Russian expertise to modernize its armed forces.

This article was initially published in French by R.E.D

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

• The TERSAA II program will invest €1.7 million over three years (2025–2028) to strengthen agricultural resilience in Togo, Benin, and two other countries.
• The initiative will directly support 8,593 producers and processors—half of them women—and indirectly benefit 750,000 people.
• The program aims to extend agroecological practices over 95 additional hectares, train 1,235 producers, and create three quality labels for local products.

Togo has launched the second phase of the Transition of Agricultural and Food Systems in Rural Territories (TERSAA) program to improve climate resilience and promote sustainable agriculture. The three-year initiative, worth €1.7 million, officially began in Lomé on October 9, 2025.

The program is led by Acting for Life (AFL) with financial support from the French Development Agency (AFD), the Air France Foundation, and the Fondation de France. It follows the successful completion of TERSAA I (2021–2025).

TERSAA II targets 8,593 farmers and processors—50% of whom are women—and seeks to indirectly impact around 750,000 people across participating countries. The initiative will expand agroecological practices over 95 new hectares, train 1,235 producers, and develop three local trust labels to boost the visibility and market value of domestic products.

According to Estelle Dandoy, Head of the Food Systems Unit at AFL, this new phase “consolidates the achievements of TERSAA I while improving market access for 31 producer organizations.” She added that the project also “promotes local consumption and strengthens the role of local authorities in managing natural resources sustainably.”

For Ana Quintela of the AFD, the program reflects “an innovative territorial approach that combines sustainability, equity, and competitiveness.” She emphasized that such initiatives can “reinforce local agricultural value chains and support communities’ adaptation to climate change.”

This article was initially published in French by R.E.D

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

• The National Agricultural Training Institute (INFA) in Tové trained 100 young people in tractor operation and maintenance.
• The program, led by the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Employment Agency (ANPE), aims to expand rural employment and mechanization capacity.
• Graduates will support the Regional Centers for Agricultural Mechanization (CRMA) to improve productivity and investment security.

Togo’s National Agricultural Training Institute (INFA) in Tové certified 50 young trainees on October 7, 2025, after completing a program in tractor driving and maintenance. The graduation follows a similar session in Kara, bringing the total number of trained participants to 100 under the country’s National Program for Agricultural Mechanization and Youth Employment Promotion.

The initiative forms part of the government’s broader efforts to modernize agriculture and reduce youth unemployment, especially in rural areas.

The three-month training program, launched by the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the National Employment Agency (ANPE), provided practical instruction in tractor operation, coupling systems, maintenance, plowing, sowing, and mowing.

Authorities said the goal is to create a skilled workforce capable of managing and maintaining equipment deployed in the Regional Centers for Agricultural Mechanization (CRMA) — key hubs for advancing agricultural productivity.

According to Kossi Tsiglo, Director General of the ANPE, the initiative will “help secure agricultural investments, strengthen productivity, and create skilled jobs in rural areas.”

This article was initially published in French by R.E.D

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

• Togo launched the sixth edition of its “Consume Local Month” on October 9, 2025, promoting Made-in-Togo products.
• The initiative, held under the UEMOA regional framework, focuses on skills and innovation to strengthen SME competitiveness.
• Authorities aim to increase domestic consumption and expand local value chains across sectors including agrifood, textiles, and cosmetics.

Togo officially launched the sixth edition of its annual “Consume Local Month” on October 9, 2025, in Lomé. The opening ceremony, chaired by Mensah Koffi Vinyo, Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Local Consumption, marked the start of a series of activities designed to promote local products and services under the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) initiative.

The 2025 edition, held under the theme “Skills and Innovation for the Competitiveness of Local Products,” highlights the role of entrepreneurship, creativity, and technical know-how in driving national economic growth.

Throughout October, authorities will organize training workshops for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), as well as conferences, company visits, trade fairs, and media campaigns across the country.

Officials said the objective is to boost consumption of local products and engage every link in the value chain — from production to marketing — in the nation’s economic development.

“It is about giving greater value to our agro-food, artistic, artisanal, textile, cosmetic, and service innovation potential,” said Mensah Koffi Vinyo. He added that the government views local production as a pillar of structural transformation and sustainable employment creation.

Since its launch in 2019 by the UEMOA Commission, “Consume Local Month” has become an annual event celebrated simultaneously across the bloc’s eight member states. The initiative aims to strengthen regional production capacity and reduce dependence on imports.

According to Abdoulaye Diop, UEMOA’s resident representative in Togo, the goal goes beyond product promotion. “It is no longer just about showcasing our products, but about understanding how skills and innovation transform our economies,” he said.

Throughout October, Togolese authorities and partners will assess progress made during previous editions and define new strategies to improve the competitiveness of local enterprises in both domestic and regional markets.

The event reinforces Togo’s ongoing commitment to industrial diversification, value chain development, and private sector empowerment, in line with the country’s 2025 national development strategy.

This article was initially published in French by Esaie Edoh 

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

• The West African Development Bank (BOAD) approved a CFA20 billion ($32 million) loan to finance Phase 1 of Togo’s Agricultural Mechanization and Irrigation Support Program.
• The funds will equip Regional Centers for Agricultural Mechanization (CRMA) with modern tools to raise productivity and rural employment.
• The financing aligns with BOAD’s “Djoliba Strategic Plan”, aimed at strengthening productive infrastructure and supporting economic transformation in WAEMU countries.

The West African Development Bank (BOAD) has approved a CFA20 billion ($32 million) loan to support Togo’s efforts to accelerate agricultural mechanization and irrigation. The announcement followed the bank’s 148th ordinary board session held on October 9, 2025, in Lomé.

The new funding targets the first phase of the Agricultural Mechanization and Irrigation Support Program, a government-led initiative designed to modernize farming practices, strengthen food security, and raise farmers’ incomes.

The program will provide modern equipment to Regional Centers for Agricultural Mechanization (CRMA), which currently operate in Kara and Kpalimé. These centers, launched in 2023, serve as technical hubs for training, maintenance, and advisory services for smallholder farmers.

The BOAD financing will also allow the government to expand CRMA operations to other regions, with expected gains in agricultural productivity and rural employability.

According to the regional development bank, the initiative will help farmers better utilize mechanization technologies and ensure sustainable management of agricultural equipment.

BOAD said the operation fits within its Djoliba Strategic Plan, which prioritizes the financing of productive infrastructure and the economic transformation of member states within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).

At the end of its latest board meeting, the bank highlighted its strong financial performance, reporting a CFA22 billion ($35 million) net profit in the first half of 2025. BOAD also recalled its €1 billion bond issuance earlier this year, aimed at scaling up funding for regional development projects.

This article was initially published in French by R.E.D
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

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