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

The Togolese government plans to create a "Togo Site Touristique" label to enhance the country's tourist sites and set quality standards in the tourism sector. This initiative is part of the government's broader reforms outlined in the Togo 2025 roadmap.

The new label will distinguish Togolese tourist attractions, making them more appealing to local and international visitors. According to the "Rapport de mise en œuvre des réformes au premier semestre 2024," published by the Secrétariat Permanent pour le suivi des Politiques de Réformes et des Programmes Financiers, the criteria for this labeling have already been established, and a committee involving various national quality institutions is being formed.

The initiative will also include a comparative analysis of tourism labels from other African and developed countries to align Togo with international best practices. Additionally, plans are underway to digitalize the classification process for tourist accommodations and approval applications. "This activity will make it possible to increase the number of approved and classified tourism operators," the report states.

Furthermore, a new law will be introduced to better organize the tourism sector, addressing recent developments while harmonizing development and promotional strategies. A significant change will involve transferring management of the tourism sector from the Ministry of Culture to a newly established "high-commissariat."

Ayi Renaud Dossavi 

The second edition of the National School on Internet Governance (ENOGI) ended on October 8, 2024. The two-day event was organized by Internet Society Togo (ISOC-Togo). It gathered in Lomé various Togolese internet pioneers, such as Jean-Marie Noagbodji, whose company manages the Togolese internet extension ".tg," along with regional experts.

"Our meeting today comes when the Internet is at a crossroads. As strong advocates for an open, free, and secure Internet, we face significant challenges that require us to rethink our long-held policies and approaches," said Emmanuel Vitus Agbenowossi, President of ISOC-Togo, on the first day.

The event covered key topics including internet governance, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and national digital regulation strategies. "We are confronted with issues related to the security of digital infrastructures and protecting users' rights. Cybersecurity remains critical due to rising cyber threats and vulnerabilities, making it essential to ensure a safe Internet for everyone," Agbenowossi declared.

The first ENOGI edition took place in 2021. It was organized in partnership with the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) as part of the PRIDA project. The event received nearly 500 applications, reflecting growing interest in digital governance. Out of the 500, 60 participated in online training, while 45 attended in-person sessions in Lomé.

Founded in January 1992, the Internet Society is a global organization based in the United States. It promotes the advancement of computer networks worldwide. Over the past 20 years, the Internet Society has advocated for an open, secure, and interconnected Internet in Lomé.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togo’s Ministry of Planning, Development, and Cooperation is recruiting field agents for the 5th National Agricultural Census (RNA 5) until October 15, 2024. This recruitment is in preparation for the census, which last occurred in 2012.

Candidates must apply on a dedicated platform. Once selected, they will gather information on crops, cultivated areas, farm types, and agricultural farming practices.

This census will provide a clear picture of Togo's agricultural sector, highlighting its strengths and challenges. The data collected will help shape future policies and investments in agriculture.

This fifth census aims to monitor and evaluate Togo's agricultural sector, which has not been surveyed on this scale for over a decade. The last census indicated that Togolese agriculture contributed nearly 40% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employed around 60% of the workforce.

The results of this new survey will measure the evolution of this vital sector and account for changes that have occurred over the past ten years.

Esaïe Edoh

Lomé-based Pan-African airline Asky has resumed flights from Lomé, Togo, to Pointe Noire, Congo, through Luanda, Angola. A ceremony was held on October 2 to celebrate the resumption. 

On this route, Asky will operate three flights weekly–Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

The flights had been halted for four years due to a lack of passengers. With the reopening, Asky has only one destination left to reach its goal of serving about 30 destinations in West and Central Africa.

The reopening should also translate into higher traffic for Lomé’s airport, contributing to the facility’s ambition of having 1.5 million passengers by 2025.

Asky received a new aircraft on October 1, 2024, to replace its oldest plane as part of its modernization and expansion plan. Under this plan, the carrier should acquire two new planes every year and expand to two new destinations.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

It is now possible to request proof of payment for the regulatory fee related to public procurement in Togo. On October 1, the sector’s regulator, the ARCOP, launched PASSE, a digital platform enabling this service.

On this platform, proofs are generated automatically once an application is submitted. The document can be obtained within 72 hours.

With this move, ARCOP is taking a significant step in its efforts to improve accessibility and follows other government agencies that are also digitizing their services. The goal is to digitize 75% of administrative procedures by 2025.

Several state entities, including the Port of Lomé, the Tax Office, and various ministries, already kicked off the transition.

Esaïe Edoh

The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), has a new representative in Togo: Riswana Soundardjee. She introduced herself to Togolese Prime Minister Victoire Tomegah-Dogbe on October 2, 2024, alongside her predecessor, Demba Diack.

"I have had this responsibility for the past two and a half years. It's time for me to hand over responsibility to my colleague, who will be the new country manager," said Demba Diack.

During the meeting, past and future projects between Togo and GAVI were reviewed, especially regarding malaria control. Riswana Soundardjee expressed her commitment to continuing immunization efforts, especially for children.

GAVI supports various vaccination programs in Togo. From 2021 to 2025, Togo has received $27.2 million for vaccine support, $16.1 million for vaccine campaigns (including hepatitis and HPV), and $4.06 million for technical assistance.

Although vaccination coverage is relatively high in Togo, it has stagnated recently. DTP1 (diphtheria-tetanus-polio) coverage has remained stable between 87% and 90%, while measles and rubella coverage has fluctuated between 69% and 77%, according to the Ministry of Health.

One major area of future collaboration will be the introduction of new vaccines, including those for HPV and malaria.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

A project to modernize palm processing in Momé Katihoé, a village in Vo, Southern Togo. The project received CFA60.4 million under the WACA ResIP coastal resilience program. 

Modernizing Production

"In the past, kneading palm nuts was extremely difficult. We sometimes did it with our feet or in mortars, which made the work tedious," explains Soutoji Komlan, president of the Development Committee of Momé Katihoé. 

The newly launched project was submitted to WACA by the community. A modern processing unit has been built under the initiative. The facility has mixers, motorized extractors, and a palm kernel oil press. "With this new equipment, work is easier and our women's living conditions have improved considerably," said Komlan.

"Making palm oil used to take us very long, at least a week. With this equipment, we can now produce many 25-liter jerrycans, in just a day," said Dodjomè Adjovi Reine, one of the project's beneficiaries. The project has even allowed the beneficiaries to open an account with a local microfinance institution.

Developing the Village

The sub-project also addressed energy needs since electricity was required to operate the equipment. It also involved wood-energy plantations to combat wood shortages. The community started with 3.5 hectares of reforestation and has expanded to 25 hectares.

Oboubé Donou, president of the women's processing cooperative, expects a borehole to be completed soon. That is one of WACA's final tasks in the area.

Becoming a Role Model

Dr. Adou Rahim Alimi Assimiou, national coordinator of WACA in Togo, considers Momé Katihoé an exemplary community. "Through this sub-project, the community has achieved remarkable things that cannot be compared to others," he stated. The initiative benefits not only Momé Katihoé but also nearby villages.

Despite some remaining work like fencing and building a borehole, WACA's leadership in Togo believes the project has already positively impacted the lives of palm nut processors in the village.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi