Togo Closer to Having A Financial Inclusion Strategy

Finance

Tuesday, 02 July 2024 15:46

Togo Closer to Having A Financial Inclusion Strategy

(Togo First) - Togo is the top WAEMU member in terms of financial inclusion. "In 2023, the rate of use of financial services in Togo reached 87.1%, fruit of the concerted efforts of the government and financial sector players," said Mazamesso ASSIH, Minister of Financial Inclusion, last Thursday, on the sidelines of a regional consultation workshop on the revision of the regional financial inclusion strategy.

Togo started working on its national strategy for financial inclusion in 2021. Since then, the country has been launching affordable financial products for its people, especially the vulnerable and those living in rural areas.

"Financial inclusion gives every individual, regardless of social status, gender, age or geographical location, the opportunity to access a diversified range of financial services tailored to their specific needs and aspirations," said Minister ASSIH. "By promoting savings, investment, entrepreneurship, and risk management, financial inclusion helps to reduce poverty, strengthen household resilience, and stimulate economic growth in our countries.", she added.

Towards a new sub-regional strategy

At the sub-regional level, the WAEMU launched a regional financial inclusion strategy in 2019.

According to Mazamesso ASSIH, Togo’s new regional strategy should meet every resident’s needs, improve financial education and consumer protection, foster digital financial inclusion, and leverage technology to make financial services more accessible and affordable.

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.