Togo : World Bank and the EU disburse $20mln to improve economic governance

Economic governance

Friday, 26 October 2018 14:30

Togo : World Bank and the EU disburse $20mln to improve economic governance

(Togo First) - The World Bank and the European Union have provided a $20 million financing to support Togo’s economic governance support project (PAGE). The latter was launched 25 October 2018 by Aharh-Kpessou, Permanent Secretary monitoring reforms and financial programmes at the ministry of economy and finances.

The PAGE aims to help the State better manage public investments, mobilize internal resources, and improve accountability mechanisms and monitoring of service provision in key sectors. This would enable the government to overcome major challenges both in regards to economic governance and public finance management.

According to Aharh-Kpessou, “this programme focuses mainly on good governance and civic engagement as base for a sustainable economic growth”. Similarly, Hawa Cissé Wagué, World Bank’s resident representative in Togo said: “By getting the civic society more engaged in the budget preparation process and downstream in the monitoring of public service provision, the project will ease and ensure transparency in the management of public finances.”

Indeed, the PAGE will produce platforms and mechanisms through which the civic society and other citizen groupings can take part to dialogue with the State concerning budget priorities and give their opinion to improve quality and access to public services in targeted sectors. The project will be carried out in over five years.

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.