Cooperation: Niger and Burkina Faso Take New Steps to Get Closer to Togo

Politics

Thursday, 15 August 2024 16:51

Cooperation: Niger and Burkina Faso Take New Steps to Get Closer to Togo

(Togo First) - The Togolese President, Faure Gnassingbé, recently recently two delegations from Niger and Burkina. He first received the delegation from Burkina Faso, on August 9, and the one from Niger on August 12.

Both delegations were in Lomé to discuss ways to bolster diplomatic relations and cooperation with Togo.

The Niger delegation was led by the Minister of Public Health and Social Affairs, Colonel Major Garba Hakimi. "We have just been received by His Excellency, Faure Gnassingbé. This is a mission dispatched by his brother, Brigadier General Abdourahamane Tiani, from the Republic of Niger. The main purpose of the mission is to deliver a message from the President of Niger,” Hakimi said after the meeting.

The group from Burkina Faso was led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré. "The President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has mandated us to reaffirm his message of fraternity and solidarity, as well as the positive appreciation of the Togolese President's leadership on sub-regional issues," said after meeting with President Gnassingbé.

The meetings happen in a difficult socio-economic and political context in the region. Indeed, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali have left the ECOWAS block in recent months to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The Sahel States and the northern part of Togo are also facing security issues.

Though they left the ECOWAS, the AES States seek to get closer to Togo, which they want to involve in their customs interconnection project. If implemented, the project will bolster Togo's position as an entry point for products imported by its landlocked neighbors.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

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.