PAIEJ-SP: CFA17.2 billion distributed and more than 55,000 jobs created since 2016

Agriculture

Monday, 07 February 2022 16:49

PAIEJ-SP: CFA17.2 billion distributed and more than 55,000 jobs created since 2016

(Togo First) - Between its launch in 2016 and the end of December 2021, the Support Project for Youth Employability and Integration in Growth Sectors (PAEIJ-SP), distributed CFA17.2 billion to young Togolese agripreneurs, according to data provided by this program.

The sum is twice the CFA7.5 billion the institution planned to share over the period under review. It was raised through 15 financial partner institutions (including microfinance institutions). These donors have financially supported a total of 669 young people against 780 planned, 1,457 SCOOPS (Cooperative Societies) against 1,000 initially planned, and 23 SMEs / SMIs, against 12 planned.

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Regarding technical support, the PAEIJ-SP said it supported 31 SMEs, against 12 planned; trained 1,420 young people (against 1200 initially planned) on the development of business plans and business creation, and supported 3,178 agricultural groups, against 1,000 planned.

The various initiatives led to the creation of more than 55,000 direct jobs, of which 27% were allotted to women, and nearly 750,000 seasonal jobs (of which 38% were for women). This is as a result of its technical support to the 31 SMEs/SMIs.

The PAIEJ-SP is co-financed by the government of Togo and the African Development Bank (AfDB). Deployed across the whole country, the program covers the following sectors: corn, cassava, soybeans, small ruminants, and poultry. Earlier this month, donors and agricultural actors involved in the project met to talk about the financing of the upcoming 2022-2023 agricultural campaign, with a focus on sustainability.

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.