A delegation from the Port Autonome de Lomé (PAL), led by director Fogan Adegnon, has been on a mission in Sahelian countries since October 6, 2024. The first stop was Niamey, Niger, where they aimed to inform local economic operators about new measures at the Port of Lomé to improve trade.

In Niamey, the Togolese delegation met with local authorities, transport unions, and Niger's importers and exporters. They highlighted the advantages of using PAL for the transit of goods to and from Niger. This in a context where the Port of Lomé is Niger’s currently-preferred platform for international trade amid political tensions with Cotonou.

This mission is part of broader efforts by Togo and neighboring countries to position the Port of Lomé as a key link between the Sahel region and global markets. In June, customs authorities from four countries signed an agreement to connect their customs information systems, which has already facilitated trade. Statistics show that Togo's trade with ESA countries now accounts for 74% of its total trade, up from 64% five years ago.

Esaïe Edoh

Ollo Africa, a tontine fintech company based in Lomé, has partnered with Ecobank to expand across Africa. The related agreement aims to increase access to financial services through Ollo’s app, Ohana Africa. The app’s users will have access to Ecobank's Pan African Wallet, extending financial services to underserved people.

The new partnership seeks to improve financial inclusion in Africa, starting with Togo, and promote financial education. “Togo is already a leader in financial inclusion in Africa, and this partnership aims to strengthen that position by creating a more accessible ecosystem for underserved communities,” said Mawuna Koutonin, Managing Director of Ollo Africa.

The collaboration also targets the informal sector by combining the strengths of both companies to promote fintech solutions. “Together, we can address the financial challenges of neglected populations and create opportunities for economic growth,” added Toba Tanama, Marketing Director of Ollo Africa.

Togolese consumers will be the first to experience these new developments as a "pilot" market, where mobile money usage has surpassed 3.5 million users, according to recent ARCEP statistics.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Coumba Dieng Sow has been appointed as the new United Nations Resident Coordinator in Togo. She was appointed last week by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. 

As new UN's representative, Sow will coordinate efforts to ensure a unified response to Togo's national priorities and needs, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other international commitments.

Sow will oversee 13 UN agencies, funds, and programs spanning various sectors, in collaboration with the government. With 20 years of experience in development and humanitarian aid, she has previously held several significant roles, including Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rwanda and Djibouti, Emergency and Resilience Coordinator for West Africa and the Sahel as well as Africa Officer in the FAO Director-General's Office.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation is in Togo to review the country’s new 42-month economic program backed by a $390 million extended credit facility (ECF). The mission ends on October 18, 2024. 

According to the Togolese Ministry of Economy and Finance, the IMF team will engage in discussions with local authorities and various entities about issues related to the real sector. They will focus on recent economic developments, high-frequency indicators, and short- and medium-term economic projections. The mission will also examine industrial policy and its effects on the Togolese economy.

Additionally, discussions will cover budget execution, particularly revenues up to September 2024, as well as the performance of non-tax revenue collection. Public expenditure execution will also be assessed.

A positive evaluation from this mission could lead to a disbursement under the Extended Credit Facility and may position Togo as a candidate for the IMF's new $50 billion Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).

Last month, the IMF lauded Togo’s progress regarding tax collection, highlighting the increased mobilization of domestic resources. This progress has strengthened the country's capacity to finance government actions, signaling continued support for the current program.

Esaïe Edoh

Togo has officially opened an Office for the Reception, Information, and Orientation of Litigants at the Tribunal de Grande Instance de Lomé. The office opened on October 7, 2024, to provide clear information about legal procedures and court services.

This initiative aims to combat judicial canvassing, a practice where illegal intermediaries exploit citizens' lack of knowledge about legal processes to offer paid services. The new office’s staff includes 25 trained paralegals who will assist litigants and connect them directly with judges, bypassing intermediaries. Public prosecutor Talaka Mawama stated that this initiative will help prevent litigants from being approached by canvassers.

Minister of Justice Mipamb Nahm-Tchougli emphasized that the office's opening will enhance the quality, efficiency, and accessibility of justice in Togo, saying: “Demystifying justice may seem inadequate for the justice professional, but for citizens, it is indeed an emergency.” He added that judicial canvassing has become a significant issue, turning courts into centers for unscrupulous transactions that harm litigants.

This initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize Togo's justice system and improve transparency in judicial services, supported by various international partners.

Esaïe Edoh

In Togo, Nouvelle Sototoles, a company under Hage Group, launched a new paint production unit, expanding its operations beyond sheet metal and metallurgical products. The new venture, branded Jessi Peintures, has been marketed in the sub-region for 20 years, particularly in Burkina Faso.

Located in the port area of Lomé, the plant required an investment of around CFA1 billion. It can produce up to 20,000 tons of paint annually. According to executives from Nouvelle Sototoles, "the plant uses automated production systems and state-of-the-art technologies, with mixing and packaging robots, as well as integrated quality control laboratories."

The company emphasizes its commitment to sustainability by using eco-friendly raw materials, recycling solvents, and reducing CO₂ emissions. "We aim to produce paints that not only beautify spaces but also respect the planet," they added.

The production will target local and regional markets, where demand for building finishing products is rising due to urbanization and growth in the construction sector. In Togo, the housing deficit is estimated at over 500,000 units, prompting both government and private investments in social housing projects.

The region faces a total housing deficit of about 3.5 million units, with a need for 250,000 new homes each year to keep pace with rapid urbanization and population growth.

Togo and Ghana resumed talks on the demarcation of their land borders. A two-day meeting was opened on Oct. 8 in Lomé, the Togolese capital, in this framework. The session aims to help both countries agree on the exact boundary line between Borne 1 and the sea.

Participants reviewed previous technical commission sessions and monitoring committee meetings. The review aimed to help national coordinators agree on how to delineate the boundary.

“Our expectations for this meeting are very high. We have already worked on more than 350 km, and we wish to find common ground to enable our technical teams to resume work. I am convinced that thanks to our goodwill and shared commitment, we will overcome any misunderstandings in the general interest of our two countries,” said General Emmanuel Kotia, Commissioner General and Chairman of Ghana's border delimitation commission, at the meeting’s opening. 

This joint initiative, which started a few years ago, aims to enhance territorial protection, prevent conflicts, and resolve border disputes between Togo and Ghana. The two countries have already made progress in delineating their maritime borders, reaching an agreement on this issue in 2022.

Esaïe Edoh

Ahead of an Belgian economic mission scheduled to visit Togo next month, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Togo (CCI-T) invites Togolese entrepreneurs to participate in projected B2B meetings.

The mission will include a plenary session on November 7 at the Hotel Sarakawa, followed by B2B meetings on the same day and November 8. 

These sessions aim to connect Togolese companies with potential partners from Belgium, focusing on sectors like industry, finance, technology, energy, the environment, infrastructure, health, digital services, and agriculture.

The economic mission, announced several months ago, seeks to strengthen trade relations between Belgium and Togo, particularly in strategic areas such as infrastructure and transport. About 40 Belgian companies are expected to take part in the mission.

Interested companies must register with CCI-Togo by October 31, 2024.

The digital platform for handling procedures related to the Port of Lomé is officially online. Announced a few days ago, the platform was launched on October 8, 2024. This new platform allows service providers to complete all port-related formalities online, from data entry to invoice payment.

Minister of Maritime Economy and Coastal Protection, Richard Kangbeni, explained that the move mainly aims to speed up goods collection, track activities and processing times, and clarify responsibilities to address complaints. "This digitization will enable our port to be even more efficient and competitive, climbing up the world rankings," Kangbeni added.

Though it was just officially launched, the platform has been active since August 2024. It includes features such as online declarations and payments, shipment tracking, and access to information about port procedures and tariffs. 

Commenting on the development and its significance, Kombaté Yentcharé, Secretary General of the Autonomous Port of Lomé, said: "Today, without IT, we can't move forward. We can't be one of the best ports in the world if we're not at the cutting edge of technology."

This initiative is part of Togo's efforts to enhance its port operations and improve overall efficiency.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi