Lomé to Host Inaugural Convention on Africa's Single Air Transport Market, June 15-19

Transport

Tuesday, 09 June 2026 15:12

Lomé to Host Inaugural Convention on Africa's Single Air Transport Market, June 15-19

(Togo First) - Lomé will host the AFCAC African Air Transport Convention & Expo 2026 from June 15 to 19, a continent-wide aviation event organized by the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) in partnership with the African Union Commission.

The event will bring together more than 500 participants from governments, airlines, regulatory authorities, airports, financial institutions and investment groups. Discussions will focus on implementing the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), an African Union initiative designed to open up air transport markets across the continent and strengthen regional connectivity.

Over five days, participants will address several priorities, including reducing taxes and charges, financing airport infrastructure, expanding air cargo services, accelerating the sector's digital transformation and advancing the use of sustainable aviation fuels.

Expected attendees include officials from the African Union Commission, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), as well as representatives from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

According to the organizers, the meeting is expected to result in a ministerial declaration from Lomé, the launch of an African air service development platform and new cooperation mechanisms aimed at deepening the integration of the continent's aviation market.

Lomé is a key hub for regional air traffic, serving as the headquarters and operational hub of ASKY Airlines, one of West Africa's leading carriers. In 2024, Lomé's Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport recorded annual passenger traffic of more than 1.5 million travelers.

R.E.D

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.