The President of the Togolese Republic, H.E.M. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, proceeded, Sunday, June 6, 2021, to the inauguration of the Industrial Platform of Adétikopé (PIA).
The achievement of this flagship of the country’s agro-industrial policy is part of the National Development Plan 2018-2022 (PND) and the Government Road Map Togo 2025. The result of a public-private partnership, this Integrated ecosystem spread over 400 hectares and located 15km north of the capital will play a catalytic role in supporting economic growth and regional integration.
Fueled 90% by renewable energies, this integrated industrial zone will promote the local processing of raw materials, particularly agricultural raw materials intended for export, such as cotton, cashew nuts and soybeans. The PIA will accelerate the integration of sectors and accelerate the emergence of new industries with high potential, in the fields of food processing, textiles, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, automotive and recycling. The PIA will ultimately lead to the creation of at least 30,000 jobs and an upscaling of the Togolese economy.
The Head of State, H.E.M. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, said: “The PIA once again demonstrates Togo’s commitment to industrialization. Despite the difficult context linked to the pandemic, the project started on time. It was delivered quickly and is now operational. The platform will capitalize on the abundant natural resources of our country. It will ensure that Togo obtains a better share of the added value through the development of local industry for inclusive and job-creating growth. This project is just one example of what can be achieved in Togo committed to a solid development strategy combining public policy, private investment and support from international donors. ”
In her opening speech, the Prime Minister, Madame Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé, declared: “With this industrial platform and the strategic partnership with the Arise IIP group, we are going to initiate a structural change in our economy, which will allow us to ” achieve our goals of inclusion, equitable distribution of the benefits of growth and better social protection. ”
Mr. Gagan Gupta, CEO of ARISE IIP, the developer of the PIA project, commented: “The success of this industrial platform illustrates a successful partnership with the Togolese Republic, which has put in place the necessary regulatory framework to promote industrialization. Very few countries manage to turn a vision into reality, like here. At the end of 2023, no more bales of Togolese cotton will be exported without having been previously processed, and the value of Togo’s textile exports will be multiplied by 12 by 2025, to reach one billion dollars. In the industrial sector, 600 electric motorcycles will be produced daily on the PIA site from the second half of 2022, and a recycling plant will also be installed. ”
The inauguration of the Adétikopé Industrial Platform comes after the inauguration, at the end of April, of the Kékéli power plant in Lomé-Port, operated by the Eranove Group. Once again, the result of a partnership approach, this other major structuring project will increase the country’s electricity production capacity by 50% as well as the electrification of more than 250,000 households (1.5 million people). .
The Head of State also inaugurated, on Friday, June 4, the Lomé Data Center, a technology hub for storing and administering servers and IT equipment for companies and the administration. This new equipment, unique in the sub-region, an essential instrument for consolidating the digital sovereignty of the Togolese Republic, marks an additional milestone in the country’s digital transformation strategy by 2025.
All these infrastructures will help boost the economy and employment in Togo, and will have a ripple effect on all sectors. Faced with a shock of exceptional intensity, with the Covid-19 pandemic, the Togolese economy has shown remarkable resilience in 2020, achieving 1.8% growth despite a very degraded context. The rebound in activity will amount to 4.8% in 2021, according to the latest government forecasts, a figure set to increase further by 2025. Recognized among the most reforming countries on the African continent, Togo has given impetus deep reforms to increase the attractiveness of the business climate, the competitiveness of the private sector and stimulate business creation. These reforms have enabled it to achieve an increase of 59 places in two years in the Doing Business ranking of the World Bank.
Guaranteeing both physical and legal security for investors, Togo is a first-rate financial and logistical platform, including the headquarters of several pan-African banking groups and having in Lomé the only deep-water port in the region that has seen its freight increase in 2020.
