Togo takes new steps to better protect its waters

Transport

Friday, 18 March 2022 16:38

Togo takes new steps to better protect its waters

(Togo First) - On March 17, 2022, Togolese deputies unanimously passed two laws aimed at making the county’s maritime space safer and more protected. The laws, on the one hand, greenlit Togo’s adhesion to the International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, and on the other, the ratification of the 1988 Protocol regarding the 1966 International Convention on load-lines.

In detail, the first convention aims to establish rules for the location, marking, and removal of wrecks that hamper navigation. As for the ratification of the 1966 International Convention, to which the country already adhered in July 1989, it will effectively help integrate into Togo’s legal system technical provisions that match safety requirements for maritime navigation.

The two laws should help Togo better protect both human lives and material property in its maritime space, and protect the latter against certain forms of pollution. They should allow the country to be compensated when wrecks are found, removed, or marked in its waters.

Commenting on the matter, Edem Tengue, the Minister of Maritime Economy, said the laws “will greatly serve the development of the Togolese port industry, since the Autonomous Port of Lomé, given its geographical position in West Africa and its natural assets, is at the center of the application of all legal instruments governing the Togolese maritime domain”.

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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.