Coronavirus: IMF approves immediate debt relief for 25 African countries, Togo included

Economic governance

Tuesday, 14 April 2020 17:27

Coronavirus: IMF approves immediate debt relief for 25 African countries, Togo included

(Togo First) - Togo and 24 other African countries will receive immediate debt service relief from the IMF as support against the Coronavirus pandemic. This was revealed in a statement published by the Bretton Woods institution on April 13, 2020.

“I am pleased to say that our Executive Board has approved immediate debt service relief to 25 of the IMF’s member countries (...) as part of the Fund’s response to help address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” IMF’s Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, wrote in the statement.

This response, she adds, “provides grants to our poorest and most vulnerable members to cover their IMF debt obligations for an initial phase over the next six months.”

The IMF thus wants to help the 25 nations concerned “channel more of their scarce financial resources towards vital emergency medical and other relief efforts.”

The IMF’s MD hopes that the Fund will provide additional debt service relief to its poorest member countries for “a full two years.”

Similarly, French President Emmanuel Macron recently wrote off part of the debt of countries in need, following requests by Senegal’s President, Macky Sall.

Let’s recall that very recently, the IMF provided Togo $131 million to help the nation fight the Coronavirus.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

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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.