OAPI launches in Togo a project guaranteeing exclusive rights to agricultural actors who discover or create new plant varieties

Agriculture

Tuesday, 24 September 2019 12:07

OAPI launches in Togo a project guaranteeing exclusive rights to agricultural actors who discover or create new plant varieties

(Togo First) - The African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), in partnership with the Togolese government, launched last yesterday the "Project for Reinforcement and Promotion of the Plant Variety Protection System at OAPI and its member States (PPOV)."

This "system gives African actors of agricultural sectors exclusive rights over any plant variety they discover or create," sources indicate.

Alongside the launch, experts of OAPI and its member States learned how the new system functions and should, as a result, better develop efficient mechanisms to valorize plant varieties, both in the private and public sectors.

Major topics covered at the training session include: Why and how to protect new plant varieties? What valorization strategies should be put in place? What types of financings can agricultural actors get? Which type of partnership can be implemented?

OAPI's initiative is financially-backed by the European Union Commission and is supported by the African, Carribean and Pacific Group of States.

Séna Akoda

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)

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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 .

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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)

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PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

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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.