Togo: Government to digitize 75% of administrative processes by 2025

ITC

Tuesday, 05 July 2022 14:27

Togo: Government to digitize 75% of administrative processes by 2025

(Togo First) - Togo plans to digitize 75% of its administrative processes, via the dematerialization of 20 public services, by 2025. The country will spend no less than CFA8 billion on this massive project.

“When we speak of digitization, our goal is to make life easier for citizens and get them closer to the administration. As for the administration, this digitization will make it more efficient. Our ambition is to dematerialize and digitize all existing services,” said Cina Lawson, the Togolese minister for digital transformation.

According to the information obtained by Togo First, the digitization wave should also cover human resource management with public administrations and procurement procedures.

It should be emphasized that the government of Togo is striving to turn the country into West Africa’s digital hub. Foundations for this project have been laid in recent years, notably with the West African Regional Communication Infrastructure Development Program (WARCIP) and the E-gouv project, financed respectively by the World Bank and Eximbank China.

These two projects indeed allowed Togo to install basic connectivity infrastructures–such as a fiber-optic network connecting public administrations, hospitals, and public universities–build its first Data Center, and birth the national cybersecurity agency.

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Other major achievements include the landing of Google’s Equiano subsea cable which is set to be operational by the end of the year. This cable, Togolese authorities hope, will speed up the country’s digital transformation.

Then, there is the recent launch of Togo Digital Agency, a state-run agency in charge of digital projects carried out in the country–such as the national portal for public services, or the digitization of procedures like passport or resident permit applications, construction permit applications, grid connection request, e-visa, etc.

Fiacre E. Kakpo

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.