Togo seeks to attract Nigerien importers and carriers

Logistics

Friday, 12 October 2018 18:10

Togo seeks to attract Nigerien importers and carriers

(Togo First) - Following the collapse of the Malanville bridge in Benin, Niger’s leading port supplier (70% of traffic), which caused losses for Nigerien importers and carriers, the latter is considering diversifying their port partners. Togo thus seeks to become an alternative solution.

In this wake, a Togolese delegation composed of officials from the Ministry of Transport, Customs and Port of Lomé authorities presented opportunities offered by the Lomé-Ouaga-Niamey corridor to transport sector stakeholders and the Nigerien transport minister, during a visit to the country.

“The port authorities have managed to reduce the distance on this 1,200-km corridor to the equivalent of that of the Cotonou-Niamey corridor, via Ponio, on the border of Togo and Burkina Faso,” said an executive of Nigerien Ministry of Transport’s cabinet, according to comments relayed by Niamey et les 2 jours.

Nigerien authorities said thanks to the “fruitful collaboration” between Niger, Togo and Burkina Faso, abnormal practices along the corridor will no longer occur and road safety is now improved.

“Only one ISRT (Inter-Sates Road Transit) carnet is required for the entire section from Lomé to Niamey. Ponio's point is already operational. The Burkinabe authorities have given their agreement in principle to this regional traffic facilitation project on the corridor. A joint mission will soon go to Ouagadougou to sign a memorandum of customs interconnection between our three States,” stated the Nigerien Minister of Transport.

“This notches the end of hassles on this section which is now safe for carriers heading for our country,” he concluded.

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)

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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.