Togo: Lomé Port Ranks 93rd in 2024 Lloyd’s List

Logistics

Monday, 19 August 2024 16:04

Togo: Lomé Port Ranks 93rd in 2024 Lloyd’s List

(Togo First) - The Port of Lomé (PAL) moved up one spot in LLoyd’s latest Top 100 Container Ports Index. The Togolese port ranked 93rd this year.

According to Lloyd’s List, the West African port handled 1.9 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in 2023, from 1.8 million TEUs in 2022(+5%).

The PAL is the only sub-Saharan African port ranked in the Top 100 list. "Lomé is now the sole sub-Saharan African port to feature in this prestigious ranking, confirming its status as a leader in the region," commented Edèm Téngué, Togo’s Minister of Maritime Economy.

Across the whole continent, however, it is behind several ports, including the Port of Tangiers in Morocco (19th), the Port of Suez in Egypt (47th), the Port of Durban in South Africa (78th), and the Port of Damietta, also in Egypt (90th).

Asian ports dominate the ranking, globally. The top 10 ports are from Asia, with China’s Port of Shanghai in first position. The ports of Singapore and Ningbo-Zhoushan (China) are next.

Lomé's improved ranking can be attributed to reforms undertaken by the authorities to reduce costs and streamline procedures within the port. "With modern infrastructure, exemplary management and a forward-looking vision, the Port of Lomé now ranks 5th among African ports. This international recognition testifies to Togo's ongoing commitment to making Lomé a strategic hub for maritime trade in Africa," Tengue emphasized.

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.