AGP Executive Report

Public Finance: Togo’s proposed 2027 budget totals CFAF 2,684.1 billion, down 2.5% from the original 2026 plan. It earmarks CFAF 490 billion for investment, including agriculture, industrialisation and infrastructure. Industrial Investment: A proposed special economic zones law would offer location-based incentives to draw projects beyond Greater Lomé, while tying benefits to local sourcing, skills training and skilled jobs. The current free-zone system has 91 active firms employing nearly 19,000 people. Business Climate: Major companies are urging tax, energy and financing reforms to boost competitiveness and productive investment. Banking: Coris Bank International Togo named Michel Kodzo Gafan CEO; the lender reported 10% asset growth to CFAF 615.5 billion at the end of 2025. Energy and Agriculture: Togo’s renewable-energy association trained solar installers and plans a quality label for firms. Meanwhile, the Lomé agriculture fair is promoting climate-resilient production, local processing and trade, as Togo and Burkina Faso tighten checks on cross-border livestock.

Business Climate: Togo’s major companies called for fairer tax reforms and more productive investment at a Lomé forum, with officials backing broader, more effective tax collection and digital administration. Product Standards: Authorities are preparing to share 46 recently approved food standards with businesses and may make some mandatory, as Togo pushes local products to meet safety and market requirements. Renewable Energy: Solar installers trained on new photovoltaic technology in Lomé as industry group SAER-Togo advances plans for a quality label for sector operators. Agriculture and Trade: The Lomé International Agriculture and Food Show is bringing producers, processors and investors together to address climate risks and develop trade; Togo and Burkina Faso also agreed on joint livestock checks to curb theft and improve cross-border tracking. Power Supply: CEET warned of possible outages during gas-pipeline maintenance through October 27, saying it would use alternative energy sources to limit disruption.

Product Standards: Togo is preparing to share 46 food standards approved since 2024, as officials push local producers to meet safety and quality requirements and reach new markets. Airport Operations: Amid a sanitation crisis at Lomé airport, the government is handing duty-free management to Lagardère Travel Retail, a move that puts the airport’s commercial future and public oversight in focus. Solar Industry: Installers trained in new photovoltaic technology in Lomé as industry group SAER-Togo advances plans for a quality label for solar companies. Agriculture and Trade: SIALO opened in Lomé with a focus on climate-resilient farming and business links; Togo and Burkina Faso also agreed on joint checks to track cross-border livestock trade. Food Outlook: Togo’s cereal harvest is forecast to rise 4.3% to nearly 1.96 million tonnes in 2026-27, though low maize prices are squeezing farmers’ incomes.

Power Supply: CEET says pipeline maintenance through October 27 may cause outages in several Togolese localities; the utility is turning to alternative energy sources and advises customers to unplug devices during interruptions. Clean Industry: Luxembourg’s Business Partnership Facility says solar-cleaning robotics firm SolarCleano cut water use and financial losses tenfold at an industrial site in Togo, as the initiative marks €15 million mobilised for projects across 20 countries. Digital Infrastructure: Togo and Huawei signed an agreement to develop energy, smart transport and customs systems, with technology transfer and local skills development among the goals. Agriculture: Togo’s cereal output is forecast to rise 4.3% to nearly 1.96 million tonnes in 2026–27, while recent training in Kara aims to improve farmers’ access to climate-adapted seeds. Investment: ECOWAS reports Togo approved 47 investment projects worth about $619 million, amid regional efforts to digitise investor services and modernise business rules.

Development Partnerships: Togo and Germany began weeklong talks in Lomé on October 19 to review projects in agriculture, energy and other sectors ahead of 2027 negotiations. Agriculture: Cereal output is forecast to rise 4.3% to nearly 1.96 million tonnes in 2026-27, but low maize prices are squeezing farmers’ incomes. Seed-producer training in the north aims to improve access to climate-resilient varieties. Digital Infrastructure: A new Huawei agreement targets upgrades in energy, smart transport and customs, with technology transfer and local skills development. Trade and Investment: Togo and China signed 13 agreements spanning trade, technology, industrialisation and energy; ECOWAS reports Togo approved 47 investment projects worth about $619 million. Coastal Protection: Togo has accepted 26 coastal defence structures, part of a CFAF 33.48 billion project; wider coastal resilience works are 70% complete and due to finish in 2027.

Agriculture: Togo’s cereal output is forecast to rise 4.3% to nearly 1.96 million tonnes in 2026–27, but low maize prices are squeezing farmers’ earnings. Digital Infrastructure: A new Huawei agreement targets upgrades to energy, smart transport and customs systems, with technology transfer and local skills development. Coastal Protection: Togo has accepted 26 coastal defenses built at a cost of CFAF 33.48 billion; the wider resilience project is 70% complete and due to close in June 2027. Farm Inputs: Training for about 50 stakeholders in Kara aims to boost quality seed production and access in drought- and flood-hit northern regions. Trade and Investment: Togo and China signed 13 cooperation agreements, including a protocol to ease soybean exports to China and commitments on technology, industry and new energy. Separately, ECOWAS reports Togo approved 47 investment projects worth about $619 million.

Agriculture: Togo’s cereal output is forecast to rise 4.3% to nearly 1.96 million tonnes in 2026–27, though weak maize prices are squeezing farmers’ earnings. Trade and Energy: Prime Minister Faure Gnassingbé will attend the Russia–Africa Summit in Moscow, where Togo and Russia plan to advance cooperation in trade, energy, agriculture and transport, including a proposed corridor for Russian goods into West Africa. Digital Infrastructure: A new Huawei agreement targets upgrades to energy, transport and customs systems, with technology transfer and local skills development. Coastal Works: Togo has accepted 26 coastal defenses; the wider CFAF 33.48 billion project is 70% complete and due to close in 2027. Farm Inputs: Training for about 50 seed-sector stakeholders aims to improve access to climate-adapted seeds in the drought- and flood-hit north. China Ties: Thirteen agreements include a soybean export protocol, customs cooperation and partial debt relief. ECOWAS reports Togo approved 47 investment projects worth about US$619 million.

Digital Infrastructure: Togo signed a Huawei agreement to develop technology for energy, smart transport and customs, with a focus on technology transfer and local expertise. Agriculture: A training workshop in Kara brought together about 50 stakeholders to improve seed production and distribution, targeting farmers in drought- and flood-hit northern regions. Coastal Protection: Togo accepted 26 shoreline defenses, part of a CFAF 33.48 billion project; overall work was 70% complete at September’s end, with completion scheduled for June 2027. Trade and Investment: Togo’s China agreements include a protocol to facilitate soybean exports and a pledge to cancel an unspecified portion of public debt. Separately, ECOWAS reports say Togo approved 47 investment projects worth about US$619 million.

Digital Infrastructure: Togo and Huawei signed an agreement to modernize energy, transport and customs systems, with technology transfer and local skills development included. Coastal Protection: Togo has accepted 26 shoreline defenses built under the West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience project. The CFAF 33.48 billion works are part of a project that is 70% complete and due to close in June 2027. Investment: ECOWAS reports Togo approved 47 investment projects worth about US$619 million, while regional priorities include digitized investor services and better logistics. Agriculture and Trade: Togo’s China agreements include a protocol to ease soybean exports, as well as customs cooperation. In Kara, 50 agricultural stakeholders trained on improved seed production and marketing to strengthen farmers’ access to climate-adapted seeds.

Investment: Togo approved 47 investment projects worth about $619 million, according to ECOWAS’s newly published 2025 regional reports. The reports also flag infrastructure and logistics gaps as challenges across the region. China ties: During Faure Gnassingbé’s visit to Beijing, Togo and China signed 13 agreements spanning trade, technology and economic cooperation. China also agreed to cancel part of Togo’s public debt, though the amount is undisclosed, and Chinese organisations pledged free robotics and 6G training for top Togolese students; selection details are pending. Soybean exports: A new phytosanitary protocol clears a path for Togolese soybeans to enter China, a potentially major market. Togo produced more than 260,000 tonnes in 2024–25, but export growth will need to be balanced against the government’s push to process more soybeans at home.

China-Togo Trade: Togo and China signed 13 agreements during Faure Gnassingbé’s visit, including a soybean export protocol, customs cooperation and technology initiatives. Beijing also agreed to cancel an unspecified portion of Togo’s debt; Togo owed China about $331 million at the end of 2024. Skills and Technology: Chinese robotics and 6G organizations pledged free training for top Togolese students, though places and timing are not yet set. Agriculture: The soybean deal could open a major market, but sanitary access alone won’t guarantee sales—and Togo’s push for domestic processing may shape how much raw soy is exported. Regional Resources: Benin, Togo and four other Volta Basin countries resumed ministerial talks after seven years, focusing on shared water management and a 2027–28 work plan, amid funding problems at the authority. Infrastructure: Togo has begun underground tunneling for Lomé’s flood-control project, while Gnassingbé has called for the port to generate more local value, not just traffic.

China Trade & Industry: Togo and China signed 13 agreements during Faure Gnassingbé’s visit to Beijing, covering trade, technology, customs and other areas. A soybean export protocol sets the sanitary requirements for access to China’s market, while Beijing also agreed to write off an unspecified portion of Togo’s public debt. Skills & Technology: Chinese robotics and 6G organizations pledged free training for top Togolese students, though selection and program details are still pending. Regional Power: The West African Power Pool expects to launch the second phase of its electricity market early next year, aiming to expand cross-border trade and improve power supply.

China-Togo Deals: Lomé and Beijing signed 13 agreements during Faure Gnassingbé’s Oct. 9–16 visit, covering trade, technology, customs and industry. China also agreed to cancel an unspecified portion of Togo’s public debt; Togo owed China about $331 million at the end of 2024. Soybean Exports: A new phytosanitary protocol sets requirements for Togolese soybeans to enter China, offering a potential new market for a crop that topped 260,000 tonnes in 2024–25. The challenge will be balancing export growth with Togo’s push for domestic processing. Technology Skills: Chinese robotics and 6G organizations pledged free training for top Togolese students, though selection details and places are yet to be announced. Regional Power: The West African Power Pool expects the second phase of its regional electricity market to launch early next year, following a board meeting in Lomé. The plan includes steps toward an independent market operator and stronger legal and financial frameworks.

Digital Skills: Chinese robotics and 6G organizations pledged free training for top Togolese students, supporting expertise that could serve manufacturing and digital services. Soybean Exports: Togo and China signed a plant-quarantine protocol for Togolese soybeans, addressing sanitary requirements for market access. China Partnership: The countries elevated ties and pledged broader cooperation in infrastructure, agricultural modernization and finance, with Beijing expressing interest in importing more Togolese products. Regional Power: The West African Power Pool expects to launch the electricity market’s second phase early next year, aiming to expand cross-border trade and improve supply. Port and Infrastructure: Faure Gnassingbé has called for Lomé Port to generate more value, not just handle traffic; underground tunneling has also begun on the capital’s flood-control project. Clean Energy: Togo plans a solar plant with capacity of up to 110 MW.

China-Togo Trade: Togo and China signed a plant-quarantine protocol for Togolese soybean exports, addressing a key barrier to market access. China also signalled interest in importing more Togolese products and deepening cooperation in infrastructure, agriculture and finance. Technology Skills: Two Chinese organisations pledged free robotics and 6G training for top Togolese students; selection details and training dates are still pending. Regional Power: The West African Power Pool expects its second electricity-market phase to launch early next year, aiming to expand cross-border trading and improve supply. Infrastructure and Energy: Togo is advancing underground tunnelling for Lomé’s flood-control project and plans a solar plant with capacity of up to 110 MW. President Faure Gnassingbé has also called for Lomé’s port to generate more value, not just handle more traffic.

China-Togo Trade: Beijing says it will deepen cooperation with Togo in infrastructure, agricultural modernization and finance, and import more Togolese products. The upgraded partnership follows bilateral trade of $5.43 billion in 2025; Togo’s challenge is turning closer ties into investment, jobs and technical expertise. Regional Power Market: The West African Power Pool expects to launch the electricity market’s second phase early next year, advancing cross-border trade. Its board met in Lomé and called for stronger financial and institutional frameworks. Industrial Zones: African governments are increasingly linking factories, processing and logistics with ports to attract investment and boost exports. Togo is among the countries cited as using the model to support manufacturing and trade. Digital Services: Togo has begun gathering audio and text in Ewe, Kabiyè and Moba to build AI tools for public services, with applications planned for healthcare, justice and administration.