Togo: The MIFA is two years old

Agriculture

Thursday, 02 July 2020 12:22

(Togo First) - Launched in June 2018 by President Faure Gnassingbé, the Agriculture Incentive Financing Mechanism (MIFA) which is based on risk-sharing, celebrated last week its second anniversary.

Over the period, the MIFA, which is inspired by the NIRSAL in Nigeria, helped distribute more than XOF14 billion to 144,000 actors of the Togolese agricultural sector, of which 125,000 are farmers. This was done through 10 financial institutions, namely Ecobank, Orabank, Sunu Bank, UTB, BTCI, SOGEMEF, FUCEC, African Lease Togo, and Bank of Africa.

The mechanism also received support from many financial partners including the AfDB, IFAD, and the Khalifa Fund. It also structured viable markets worth XOF124 billion which are related to production and transformation across all agricultural sub-sectors.

In total, the MIFA created nearly 163,000 jobs in Togo (both direct and indirect) since it began operating.

More ambition for 2020

The ambitions of the mechanism this year are even greater, despite (or because) the major challenges spurred by the Covid-19 in the agricultural sector. Among others, the MIFA is boosting its actions to improve transportation of agricultural products, contribute to the government’s covid-19 response, and make it easier for farmers active in key sectors to get the inputs they need.

In effect, the mechanism plans to mobilize XOF50 billion for 400,000 agricultural actors, as well as generate 450,000 jobs in 2020.

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.