Gnassingbé to U.K. Investors: ‘Investing in Togo Opens Both Francophone and Anglophone Markets’

Investments

Friday, 14 November 2025 05:32

Gnassingbé to U.K. Investors: ‘Investing in Togo Opens Both Francophone and Anglophone Markets’

(Togo First) - Togo’s Council President, Faure Gnassingbé, opened the fourth UK-West and Central Francophone Africa (UK-WCAF) trade and investment forum in Lomé on Wednesday, Nov. 12. The event, held for the first time on African soil, brought together nearly 700 participants, including policymakers, investors and business leaders from about ten countries.

The two-day program features country presentations, thematic panels, roundtables, B2B meetings and networking sessions. Discussions are focusing on investment opportunities, trade partnerships and financing tools aimed at strengthening economic cooperation between the United Kingdom and Francophone West and Central Africa. Participants are also highlighting national economic priorities and recent reforms designed to make their markets more attractive.

“We are opening a new chapter today in the partnership between the United Kingdom and Francophone Africa. Investing in Togo means entering the growth corridor linking Lagos, Cotonou, Lomé, Accra and Abidjan, and gaining access to both Francophone and Anglophone markets,” Gnassingbé said, referring to a regional market of more than 450 million people.

For Togo, which has stepped up efforts in recent years to improve its business climate and attract foreign investment, the forum offers an opportunity to showcase its strengths in trade and logistics, including its deep-water port and competitive fiscal reforms.

A memorandum of understanding covering several key sectors, including infrastructure, agriculture and agro-industry, was signed at the opening session between the Togolese government and British economic actors.

Gnassingbé urged participants to pursue long-term partnerships. “We encourage our British partners to look to the future with us, to invest not only in traditional infrastructure but also in Africa’s new growth frontiers: the green economy, the local processing of critical raw materials, digital finance and creative industries,” he said.

Since its inception in 2022, the UK-WCAF forum has generated more than £1 billion in trade. The Lomé edition is expected to solidify Togo’s position as a key economic gateway between Francophone Africa and the Commonwealth.

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.