Togo is a small West African nation located between Ghana and Benin on the Gulf of Guinea. It covers an area of 56,785 square kilometers and has a population of 8.19 million people as of 2020. The country is divided into five regions: Maritime, Plateaux, Centrale, Kara and Savanes. According to Petwithsupplies, the capital city of Togo is Lomé with a population of 1,785,300 (UN estimate 2019). Other major cities include Sokode, Kara, Kpalimé.
Togo has a tropical climate with two distinct seasons: dry (November to March) and wet (April to October). The official language is French but Ewe and Kabiye are also widely spoken.
Togo’s economy is largely based on agriculture, with subsistence farming accounting for about 40% of GDP. The country’s main exports include cocoa beans, phosphates, cotton and coffee. Togo also exports some manufactured goods such as textiles and processed food products to its neighboring countries in West Africa.
The government has implemented various economic reforms since the 1990s which have helped to improve the business climate in Togo and attract foreign investment from countries like France, China and India. These reforms have resulted in increased economic growth in recent years with GDP growing by an average of 5% annually between 2010-2019 driven by investments in infrastructure projects such as roads, ports and power plants as well as expansion into new sectors such as tourism and information technology (IT).
Despite these improvements however poverty remains widespread with over half of Togolese living below the poverty line according to World Bank estimates from 2018. In order to reduce poverty levels further the government has implemented various initiatives such as providing access to credit for small businesses as well as implementing social protection programs for vulnerable groups like women, children and elderly people.
Foreign Trade of Togo
Togo’s foreign trade is largely dominated by its larger trading partners, such as China and the United States. In 2019, exports to China were worth $207 million, accounting for almost half of Togo’s total exports. Other major export partners included India ($86 million), France ($63 million) and the United States ($59 million).
Togo’s main export commodities are cocoa beans (accounting for 16% of total exports in 2019), phosphates (14%), cotton (12%), coffee (11%) and Shea butter (7%). Other notable exports include textiles, processed food products, metal products and timber.
The country’s imports have also seen significant growth in recent years. In 2019, imports into Togo totaled $1.5 billion with China being the largest source at $464 million followed by India ($172 million), France ($164 million) and the United States ($140 million). Major imports into Togo include machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals and fuels.
In order to facilitate foreign trade with its trading partners, Togo has signed a number of agreements such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Trade Liberalization Scheme as well as bilateral trade agreements with countries such as France and China. The government has also implemented various reforms aimed at improving the business climate in Togo which have helped attract foreign investment from countries like France, China and India.
Major Trading Partners of Togo
Togo’s major trading partners include China, the United States, India, France and Nigeria. In 2019, exports to China were worth $207 million, accounting for almost half of Togo’s total exports. Other major export partners included India ($86 million), France ($63 million) and the United States ($59 million).
According to countryaah, Togo’s imports have also seen significant growth in recent years. In 2019, imports into Togo totaled $1.5 billion with China being the largest source at $464 million followed by India ($172 million), France ($164 million) and the United States ($140 million). Major imports into Togo include machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals and fuels.
Nigeria is also an important trading partner for Togo. In 2019, exports from Togo to Nigeria were worth $37 million while imports from Nigeria totaled $90 million. The bulk of these exports consisted of cocoa beans (accounting for 16% of total exports in 2019), phosphates (14%), cotton (12%), coffee (11%) and Shea butter (7%). Other notable products exported to Nigeria include textiles, processed food products, metal products and timber.
In order to facilitate foreign trade with its trading partners, Togo has signed a number of agreements such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Trade Liberalization Scheme as well as bilateral trade agreements with countries such as France and China. The government has also implemented various reforms aimed at improving the business climate in Togo which have helped attract foreign investment from countries like France, China and India.
Major Imports and Exports of Togo
Togo’s major exports include cocoa beans, phosphates, cotton, coffee and Shea butter. In 2019, exports from Togo totaled $417 million with cocoa beans accounting for 16% of total exports followed by phosphates (14%), cotton (12%), coffee (11%) and Shea butter (7%). Other notable products exported from Togo include textiles, processed food products, metal products and timber.
Togo’s imports have also seen significant growth in recent years. In 2019, imports into Togo totaled $1.5 billion with China being the largest source at $464 million followed by India ($172 million), France ($164 million) and the United States ($140 million). Major imports into Togo include machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals and fuels.
In order to facilitate foreign trade with its trading partners, Togo has signed a number of agreements such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Trade Liberalization Scheme as well as bilateral trade agreements with countries such as France and China. The government has also implemented various reforms aimed at improving the business climate in Togo which have helped attract foreign investment from countries like France, China and India.