Togo : IMF allows a temporary increase in fiscal deficit

Public finance

Thursday, 27 June 2019 17:25

Togo : IMF allows a temporary increase in fiscal deficit

(Togo First) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has allowed a slight increase of Togo’s budget deficit. A true relief for the country struggling to increase internal revenues while social expenditures keep growing.

“A temporary increase in the fiscal deficit is warranted to accommodate some urgent spending. Notwithstanding this relaxation of fiscal targets, Togo is projected to remain within the WAEMU deficit criterion (ed.note: 3%) in 2019 and 2020,” said Tao Zhang, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair of the IMF’s Executive Board. This was at the end of the fourth review of Togo’s economic performance under a program supported by and Extended Credit Facility (ECF).

Togo, it should be noted, spends more than 40% of its budget to service debt. Recently also, it launched its National Development Plan, for about XOF4.6 billion. After securing part of this amount from the regional market, the nation is expected to seek €500 million on the international market by September 2019.

In this regard, though the IMF insists that improving social spending efficiency should be a priority, the institution warned against widening of fiscal deficit following the international operation. It indeed emphasized on the need to “increase permanent revenues to preserve the hardly achieved budget improvement and preparation of an adequate budget space for social and infrastructure spending.”

In 2016, Togo’s fiscal deficit stood at 9.6% of GDP. The two following years, it was at 2.1% and 6.7% of GDP respectively. This year, which is a year before the WAEMU 3% criterion comes into effect, it was forecasted to improve to 1.6%.

Last year, the country soared 19 places in the Doing Business Index, spurred by major improvements in the business environment.

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.