Togo-Turkey: Trade Volume Nears $200 Million in 2022

Economic governance

Thursday, 21 September 2023 14:57

Togo-Turkey: Trade Volume Nears $200 Million in 2022

(Togo First) - Trade between Togo and Turkey reached nearly $200 million last year. Muteber Kılıç, the new Turkish ambassador to Togo, disclosed the figure on September 19, 2023, in an audience with President Faure Gnassingbe, in Lomé.

During the meeting, the new ambassador presented the Togolese leader with her credentials. “The volume of trade was about $128 million in 2021, and it increased to nearly $200 million by the end of last year. There is significant potential that we could further develop,” Muteber Kılıç said after the meeting.

The increase in trade is attributable to efforts made by both sides. In 2020, for example, they signed many agreements and memoranda of understanding, focusing on setting up a political consultation mechanism between their foreign ministries, a reciprocal visa exemption agreement for holders of official passports, and a memorandum of understanding relating to cooperation between the Togolese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diplomatic Academy of the Republic of Turkey.

“Turkey and Africa have developed their relations in recent years in all areas, and Togo, of course, holds a special place in these relations. The balance is positive, but we could do more. We discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation, and I am ready to do everything necessary to develop our relations with Togo,” Ambassador Kılıç added.

In October 2021, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made his first official visit to Togo, in line with the two nations’ ambitions for a stronger partnership.

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)

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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.