Togo: Economic recovery post-Covid-19 will require better access to power and digital services (World Bank)

Economic governance

Thursday, 17 September 2020 10:44

Togo: Economic recovery post-Covid-19 will require better access to power and digital services (World Bank)

(Togo First) - In its recent report, Boosting Private Investment to Achieve Higher Growth and More Jobs, the World Bank recommended that Togo, to revive its economy after the Covid-19 crisis, should work on improving the quality of electricity and reduce its costs. The same recommendation stands for telecom services (internet and mobile telephony).

Besides making these services more accessible, the Bretton Woods body stressed the need for providing infrastructure and services of better quality in the energy and ICT sectors. This recommendation aligns with some actions that were recently carried out by the civil society.

According to the Washington-based institution, Togo would benefit from building a more resilient post-Covid economy. However, succeeding in this endeavor will strongly depend on economic digitization and will allow the public administration and economic activity to keep running, especially amid the current crisis.

In this regard, let’s recall that the Togolese Ministry of the digital industry currently steers the e-administration project which aims at digitizing the administration.

The World Bank also encourages Togo to accelerate measures aimed at boosting private investment and overcoming roadblocks thwarting the private sector’s growth. This is in a context where the latter’s share in the national economy grew by only 11% over the 2010-2018 period.

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)

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.