OIF spent over CFA650 million in Togo in 2023

Culture

Thursday, 21 March 2024 12:35

OIF spent over CFA650 million in Togo in 2023

(Togo First) - Togo received nearly a million euros from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) in 2023. The exact amount was €991,960, according to Prof. Kangni Alemdjrodo, Advisor to the Togolese President on the Permanent Council of La Francophonie.

The official, who disclosed the information earlier this week, detailed that the funds backed a wide range of projects, educational, and cultural, but also projects for economic and sustainable development.

Over the past year, some of the projects both sides worked on include an economic and commercial mission of the Francophonie in the Eastern Mediterranean, two sustainable development projects in Ogou 1 and Haho (valued at CFA53.3 million), and the "La Francophonie with Elles" initiative. The latter supported four Togolese projects with around CFA107 million.

CFA450 million for public reading

Over the same period, the OIF also supported public reading with over CFA450 million allocated for "the French language in the service of cultures and education." This includes support for the operation, animation, and monitoring of the first network of 12 Centers for Reading and Cultural Animation (CLAC); as well as helping set up the second CLAC network in Togo.

According to Prof. Kangni Alemdjrodo, the various projects "highlight the vitality and visibility of this cooperation" between Togo and the OIF; a cooperation "which is emerging as a true instrument of support for our development programs."

The OIF implements Francophone multilateral cooperation in 88 states and governments worldwide. The organization was established in 1970 in Niamey on March 20 (under the name of the Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT)).

This year, for the day of the Francophone, on March 20, the organization picked the theme: “Creating, Innovating, and Enterprising in French”.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

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)

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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.