Freight forwarders blocked activity at Lomé’s used cars parks on Monday

Transport

Tuesday, 08 May 2018 17:54

Freight forwarders blocked activity at Lomé’s used cars parks on Monday

(Togo First) - Launched by the Union of Certified Custom Professionals of Togo (UPRAD-Togo) to tackle fraud (smuggling mostly) related to transiting used cars, tracking system Meris apparently fails to convince everyone.

During a general assembly held last Thursday at Lomé’s autonomous port (PAL), non-certified freight forwarders said Meris which was set up to monitor transportation of cars from PAL to hinterland nations (Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, etc.) does not profit them. Instead, it cost them an additional CFA10000 which is not necessary.

“We noticed that Meris is just the same as any other tracking system, which by the way already generate fake costs. This must stop. Monday, no car will exit the port, and no payment will be made to the State. Then, we will see what happens,” declared last Thursday by Adékpoé Mathias, spokesman of non-certified freight forwarders, iciLomé quotes.

Backing this comment, Tona Sodji, one of the leaders of non-certified freight forwarders, added: “We are against this new system which creates additional cost of CFA10000”.

Truly, this Monday, freight forwarders went through with their threat starting a strike. However, after one day, activities restarted, even when the freight forwarders were still unsatisfied.

Fiacre E. Kakpo

REFORMS OVERVIEW

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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 .

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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)

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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.

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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.