“Africa Energy Generation Prize” awards the laureate of its second edition in Lomé

Energy

Monday, 23 July 2018 16:14

“Africa Energy Generation Prize” awards the laureate of its second edition in Lomé

(Togo First) - On July 20, 2018, the French Institute in Lomé hosted the prize award ceremony to the three project holders with the best idea for the second edition of African Energy Generation Prize, a pan African competition to reward unconventional energy sources inventions.

This initiative is aimed at promoting and supporting technical innovation as well as social entrepreneurship locally to identify, develop and propagate Made in Africa energy solutions on a larger scale.

After a coaching for about a year to transform their idea into concrete projects via the creation of functional prototypes, five candidates from five countries alternatively presented their projects in front of a jury of energy experts constituted for that purpose.

The Nigerian Abiola Ajala was awarded the first prize (€5,000 in value) for his project Sunbox which ambitions to set kiosks with solar panels which will allow traders to charge their phones and LED lights as well as protect themselves from mosquito bites while at the same time avoiding sunlight.

The second laureate was the Beninese Annette Adanmenou (prize: €3,000) with her project Energy Bio Foods, an integrated solution for the production of biogas. This will help cook while at the same time providing organic fertilizers to farmers.

The last laureate is the Zambian Victor Masumba (price: €2000) thanks to his project M.D. Hybrib Wind Turbine, a wind power generating system for remote farms in Zambia.

At the end of the ceremony, Astria Fataki, president of Energy Generation, declared that she was “very proud of the various laureate and for the project ideas they presented”. She also added that her institution will support them for two years in the development of their project. “We are also setting an investment fund, which will allow us to invest in those projects once they are sufficiently mature to receive an investment, so as to be present for all the value chain for those projects from ideation to the creation of a viable business”, she added.

Let’s remind that the Africa Energy Generation Prize has been organized with the support of its partners such as the ministry of post and digital economy, Schneider Electric, EDF, ENGIE Akon Lighting Africa.

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.