Togo First
Togo and Barbados Take Step to Boslter Bilateral Cooperation
Barbados' Minister of Economy and Investment, Chad Blackman, visited Lomé on May 16, 2024, to foster bilateral cooperation in promising sectors. This aligns with Barbados' policy of economic openness in Africa.
During the visit, Blackman talked with Togo's Foreign Affairs Minister, Robert Dussey. They discussed bilateral and international matters of mutual interest.
Their meeting paved the way for establishing a legal framework to regulate emerging relations between the two countries. A memorandum of understanding on political consultations between their foreign ministries should be signed soon.
To bolster trade with Barbados, Togo will remove the entry visa requirement for Barbadian citizens. The Togolese diplomacy announced the move during Blackman’s visit.
Barbados is an independent Caribbean state and a member of the Commonwealth.
Togo: Ecole Normale Supérieure and Teachers’ Training Schools Explore Key Partnership Possibility
The Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS) and Ecoles Normales de Formation des Professeurs d'École (ENFPE) could soon enter a significant partnership. A technical meeting was recently held in Lomé in this framework. Help on May 14, the sitting was led by Ministers Dodzi Kokoroko and Ihou Wateba.
Participants took several decisions like opening ENS and ENFPE in Niamtougou and Atakpamé to enhance training programs and resources.
The aim is for these institutions to collaborate, pooling resources to optimize training and pedagogical resources. This alliance could facilitate teacher exchanges, cross-training, resource sharing, and research projects, ultimately improving education quality in Togo.
The initiative aligns with an educational reform started in the country over a decade ago. The reform focuses on enhancing training and pedagogical resources to boost education and education standards.
Togo: Ministry of Investment Promotion Holds Meeting to Improve Relationship between Small and Big Companies
Togo’s Ministry of Investment Promotion (MPI) holds from today a workshop on inter-business relations. Backed by GIZ, the meeting regrouped stakeholders like SMEs, experts, and government representatives. The focus is on bolstering the relationship between large enterprises, investors, and local SMEs.
"During this meeting, we will hear perspectives from various actors, both from the private and public sectors, international organizations, and civil society. We need to find the best practices to optimize the impact of private investment on SMEs," explained Sikpa Atsouvi Yawo, Director General of API-ZF, representing the Minister of Investment Promotion. "We will consider how SMEs and large enterprises can work together to maximize positive spillover effects on our economy," he added.
The workshop follows up an assessment of business relations in Togo. It will take place in three phrases, and participants will look at ways to draw a roadmap for achieving the goal aimed.
"The goal is to create synergy so that when a foreign investor sets up shop, they have easy access to our local businesses so that these investments, indirectly, also benefit our SMEs that are already on the ground," said Rodrigue Akue-Atsa, Advisor to the Ministry of Investment Promotion. "This will also allow for knowledge sharing. There can also be technology transfer because those who come, come with new technologies and knowledge," he added.
Participants include actors like the PIA, Togo Soja, and the Association of Free Zone Companies.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo: FSRP Shows Promising Results after Two Years
Launched two years ago in Togo, the Food System Resilience Program (FSRP) shows "encouraging" results. Dindiogue Konlani, Director of Cabinet for the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, claimed so at the opening of the first synthesis meeting in Lomé on May 15, 2024.
The meeting convenes eight beneficiary countries and partners like ECOWAS, the World Bank, AGRHYMET, CORAF, and national coordinators from FSRP participating countries.
Agriculture: Data and Recommendation
Under FSRP, over 80,000 agrometeorological bulletins have been disseminated, benefiting 122,000 individuals, including nearly 50,000 women, to guide farmers in managing climatic uncertainties.
In Paris, Faure Gnassingbé Promotes Four Solutions To Foster Clean Cooking in Africa
Earlier this week, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé urged African countries to unite in promoting better cooking practices and energy improvements. Gnassingbé stressed the importance of public and private sector involvement, highlighting Africa's potential for significant greenhouse gas emission reductions through clean cooking. This was during the Clean Cooking Summit in Africa at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France.
"I believe that progress will primarily come from government involvement in the future. Of course, the private sector will play a significant role in the success of clean cooking in Africa. The fact that Africa could represent about two-thirds of the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the transition to clean cooking opens up prospects for carbon credit-based solutions," he stated.
President Gnassingbé proposed four solutions to enhance meal preparation and cooking energy access in Africa. He advocated for gas and electric cooking, improved stoves, and carbon credit-related projects to reduce reliance on firewood and charcoal. He also called for actions like subsidizing clean cooking kits, ensuring price stability for liquefied gas, supporting vulnerable households, managing energy transition, and regulating carbon credit initiatives.
The Clean Cooking Summit, organized by the African Development Bank and the International Energy Agency, aims to promote environmentally friendly cooking methods in Africa. President Gnassingbé met with President Macron and other African leaders during his visit. The leaders discussed summit recommendations.
Cooperation: A Delegation of Shippers' Directors from Sahel Visit PIA
The Adétikopé Industrial Platform (PIA) looks for ways to enhance container transfers from Lomé, Togo, to neighboring landlocked countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. A group of directors general from these countries' shippers' councils was at the PIA. The mission aims to bolster cooperation between the various parties, focusing on logistical challenges and innovative solutions proposed by the PIA.
Discussions centered on improving transportation efficiency, with the delegation touring key PIA infrastructure like warehouses, the Adétikopé dry port, and a textile factory.
Togo has recently ramped up efforts to get closer to Sahelian countries, ensuring efficient goods transportation from its port. A mission from Niger was recently in Lomé in this framework.
The Alliance of Sahelian States (Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali) drive over 90% of transit traffic through the port of Lomé, highlighting their strategic importance in Togo's goal to become a sub-regional logistics hub.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo Launches New Simultaneous Bond Issue on WAMU Market, Eyes CFA35 billion
Togo just launched a new fundraising round on the WAMU public securities market. The treasury simultaneously issued Treasury Assimilable Bonds (OAT) and Treasury Assimilable Bills (BAT). The operation closes on May 24.
Lomé seeks CF15 billion through the BATs. The securities mature over 182 days, have multiple interest rates, and a face value of CFA1 million. The OATs mature over three and five years, have a face value of CFA10,000, and respective interest rates of 6.15% and 6.40% per annum. The country seeks 20 billion through these securities.
Proceeds of the operation will finance Togo's balanced CFA2,179 billion budget for 2024.
Esaïe Edoh
The 19th Lomé International Fair to Begin on November 22
Togo will host the 19th Lomé International Fair from November 22 to December 8, 2024. The theme is "Standards and Quality of Products and Services: Tools for Competitiveness and Access to Connected Markets."
The major commercial event will feature exhibitions and discussions on improving market connectivity and promoting sustainable trade. It will also feature training and awareness sessions emphasizing the importance of complying with international standards and norms for products and services.
Minister Kayi Mivedor states these initiatives aim to make local businesses more competitive and attract more foreign investors.
Organizers expect over 500,000 visitors and more than 1,000 exhibitors from various countries. Mali has been designated as the guest of honor country.
The 19th Lomé Fair will be preceded by the 5th Made in Togo Fair, scheduled for July 26 to August 4, 2024, at the Togolese Exhibition and Fair Center.
Esaïe Edoh
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Food System Resilience Program: Lomé Hosts First Annual Synthetis Meeting
Lomé hosts this week the first synthesis meeting of support missions for the Food System Resilience Program (FSRP) for 2024. Funded by the World Bank, ECOWAS, CILSS, and CORAF, among others, the FSRP aims to improve food security and strengthen agricultural systems in the sub-region.
The meeting began on May 15 and will end on May 17. It brings together FSRP actors and partners who will discuss digital agricultural services, integrated landscape management, and regional trade enhancement. The roundtable aims to draw lessons, consolidate coordination, promote cross-learning, and identify progress and challenges in FSRP implementation.
"The main objective of this meeting is to draw lessons learned from support missions, consolidate coordination of regional and national activities, promote cross-learning, create synergies among all FSRP stakeholders, and identify progress made as well as challenges encountered in FSRP implementation," stated the program coordination.
The event will feature an exhibition of agricultural products and technologies developed by program beneficiaries. Togolese producers will showcase their achievements, highlighting the positive impacts of FSRP.
This evaluation comes after FSRP actions reached approximately 1.3 million direct beneficiaries in 2023, including nearly 40% women, in countries such as Togo, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, and Chad.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo: FAIEJ Launches App to Support Young Local Entrepreneurs
Togo’s Youth Economic Initiatives Support Fund (FAIEJ) and UNDP, launched ADACE, a mobile app supporting young Togolese entrepreneurship. The digital tool offers business creation resources.
Available on the Play Store, ADACE provides an immersive training journey with simulation games in French, Ewe, and Kabiye. The games cover market studies, technical skills, and financial planning.
The app enables young entrepreneurs to acquire practical skills through realistic, educational scenarios. It automatically generates business plans in PDF format, facilitating project structuring and presentation.
ADACE incorporates an interactive forum for users to exchange ideas with FAIEJ experts and share experiences. A media library completes the tool, offering continuous entrepreneurship resources.
Since 2012, FAIEJ claims to have created over 26,000 sustainable jobs, granting over 8.6 billion CFA francs in loans to young people.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi