Togo: Top 2024 Developments in Transport and Logistics

Transport

Friday, 03 January 2025 16:51

Togo: Top 2024 Developments in Transport and Logistics

February

Global Shipping Leaders Join Adétikopé Dry Port

In February 2024, the Plateforme Industrielle d'Adétikopé (PIA) welcomed several prominent players from the shipping industry. Edem Kokou Tengue, then Togolese Minister of Maritime Economy, announced this significant development on February 28. Notable companies such as MSC (Italo-Swiss), MAERSK (Denmark), CMA CGM (France), PIL (Singapore), and ONE (Japan) are now part of this logistics hub, marking a pivotal moment for Togo in its ambition to become a major logistics center in West Africa.

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Suspension of the Statistical Fee and Facilities for Carriers Bound for Niger

Also in February, the Office Togolais des Recettes (OTR) announced the suspension of the statistical fee (RS) for goods unloaded at the Port of Lomé and in transit to Burkina Faso, Mali, or Niger.

Originally set at 2% and later reduced to 1% under the ECOWAS Common External Tariff, this fee is intended to fund statistical activities. It was suspended in line with Togo’s ambition to make its port the primary entry point of goods destined for these landlocked countries. Additionally, starting June 1, 2024, Togo introduced a minimum free time of 40 days for containers in transit to Niger.

March

Launch of Construction of 21 Bridges in Togo's Economic Regions

On March 20, 2024, the country kicked off a project to build 21 Unibridge steel-concrete modular bridges in Kolidè, in the Ogou 2 municipality, about 230 km from Lomé.

Combined, these bridges will span 2,271.6 linear meters across five economic regions: Plateaux, Maritime, Centrale, Kara, and Savanes.

The project is financed by France and Togo. Out of its total cost of CFA65 billion, France provided CFA50 billion while Lomé added the CFA15 billion remaining. According to current projections, the project should be completed within 36 months. It should enhance inter-regional connectivity and support economic development.

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June

PIL Begins Transshipment Operations at the Port of Lomé

Pacific International Lines (PIL), one of Singapore's leading shipping companies, officially launched its transshipment operations at the Port of Lomé on June 19. This milestone was marked by the arrival of the Kota Tema, a state-of-the-art vessel with the capacity to carry over 7,000 containers.

July

Interconnection of Customs Systems with ESA Countries

In July 2024, customs directors from AES countries convened in Niamey and agreed to interconnect their customs IT systems. This initiative aims to facilitate information exchange, secure transit operations, and reduce border delays. An evaluation meeting took place in September in Lomé to assess progress on this interconnection.

August

The Port of Lomé Confirms Its Leadership in Africa for the Fourth Year Running

According to Lloyd's List's 2024 ranking of the world's top ports, the Port Autonome de Lomé (PAL) has maintained its position as West Africa's leading port for four consecutive years. Handling traffic of 1.91 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), PAL ranks fifth on the continent overall, behind Tangier Med in Morocco (8.61 million TEU), Port Said in Egypt (4.44 million TEU), Durban in South Africa (2.54 million TEU), and Damietta in Egypt (1.97 million TEU). Worldwide, the Port of Lomé ranked 93rd in 2024, jumping one spot compared to the year before.

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September

Complete Dematerialization of International Trade Documents at the Port of Lomé

Togo achieved a major milestone by fully digitizing all formalities related to international trade documents at the Port of Lomé on September 27. This new digital platform allows economic operators to complete all procedures online, including tracking goods an innovation designed to streamline administrative processes and enhance transparency.

October

Yango Suspended

In October 2024, the Togolese government suspended Yango's operations a ride-hailing service owned by Russian tech group Yandex citing that its activities were deemed "illicit." This decision has ignited discussions about regulating digital platforms in Togo and their implications for innovation within the transport sector.

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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.