Togo: Business Climate Cell Speeds Up Modernization of State Institutions

Economic governance

Monday, 21 August 2023 14:59

Togo: Business Climate Cell Speeds Up Modernization of State Institutions

(Togo First) - In a bid to modernize State institutions, Togo’s Business Climate Cell has been equipping them with state-of-the-art IT hardware. Last week, the Ministry of Housing’s department in charge of issuing permits, and the Trade and Movable Credit Register (RCCM), received high-end servers.

The new server supplied to the Ministry of Housing should improve its processing system, make application management easier, and bolster the ongoing digitization in the housing sector. According to Farah Jean-François, Director of Housing within the Ministry of Urban Planning, Housing, and Land Reform, "This new server is designed to strengthen the existing building permit issuance system set up by the Togolese presidency in 2016 to expedite the process. Previously, these procedures took several months, but now, they take less than two weeks, meaning ten working days to obtain a permit."

"The new IT equipment will mainly be used for data backup, reducing the risk of data loss in the system, and making the system much more responsive during updates or operational phases," he added.

The initiative to provide the servers aligns with the government’s efforts to modernize public services. Togo First reached out to Sandra Ablamba Johnson, Minister and Secretary-General of the Presidency, and she stressed that "these efforts will be intensified and accelerated in the coming days, with support to other structures, in the quest to enhance the business environment."

Regarding the Trade and Movable Credit Register (RCCM), it received two servers. These will speed up the issuance of RCCM numbers, during business registration. Other equipment was also procured to enable online hearings at the Lomé commercial court.The Togo Arbitration Court (CATO) is also set to get a server that will help it set up a fully dematerialized platform for online hearings.

It is worth noting that the move to supply the equipment was spearheaded by the Business Climate Cell, as part of the Trade Facilitation and Logistics Services Competitiveness Project (PFCCSL). With the goal of boosting commercial logistics services in Togo, the project benefits from $18 million in financing from the World Bank.

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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.