Cooperation: Togolese PM in Gabon for work visits

Politics

Friday, 22 October 2021 12:11

Cooperation: Togolese PM in Gabon for work visits

(Togo First) - Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé, Togo’s PM, has been in Gabon since last Wednesday, on an official visit. Upon arrival, Toméga-Dogbé met with her Gabonese counterpart, Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, and they discussed ways to boost cooperation between the two countries.

In detail, the two Prime Ministers talked about common-interest issues and emphasized the need for their respective countries to innovate, to mutually benefit from their cooperation. “During yesterday’s work session with our Gabonese counterparts, we noticed the convergence between the development projects of Presidents Faure Gnassingbé and Ali Bongo, regarding industrialization, inclusion, and sustainable development; areas where we plan to improve our cooperation,” the Togolese PM said.

Besides these areas, the two countries plan to “define new mechanisms that will help leverage investment and development opportunities for the good of their respective people.” This will be discussed further at the 7th session of the Gabon-Togo mixed great commission.

According to Ossouka (Gabon’s PM), over the past decades, Gabon and Togo have sustained “a cooperation model, an exemplary and dynamic partnership.”

It should be recalled that the two nations sealed in March 1975 a deal on the free movement of people and goods.

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.