Togo: National Council for Employers suggests setting up CFA50B fund to support local SMEs and SMIs

Economy

Thursday, 16 December 2021 18:52

Togo: National Council for Employers suggests setting up CFA50B fund to support local SMEs and SMIs

(Togo First) - The Togolese Employers’ Council (CNP-Togo) recommends the creation of a CFA50 billion financing fund to revive SMEs and SMIs. According to the recommendation which was made in a study on how Covid-induced health measures impacted businesses in the country, the fund would mainly target businesses that were greatly affected by the pandemic.

In detail, beneficiaries will get 3-6 year loans at an interest rate of 3.5%.

CNP-Togo claims that “the State can set up a CFA20 billion fund to support the recovery of the national economy.” The tripartite fund (State-CNP-Banks) should help sustain the employment and production levels of SMEs through financial assistance.

The support should come in a context where “it has become more difficult for businesses to access financing,” CNP-Togo adds, a context “where the uncertainty arising from the crisis increased the risk of cash shortage and sparked a general fear of risk.”

In addition to the fund, the CNP recommended five more measures. They include launching an exceptional loan scheme for small businesses, securing a State-guaranteed cash flow loan; postponing tax and social security deadlines, setting up an unemployment insurance scheme for entrepreneurs, and setting up a support mechanism for exporting companies.

Let’s recall that, in line with ambitions to restart the Togolese economy post-Covid, the government regularly meets with various key actors of the economy, the private sector notably.

Esaïe Edoh

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.