The Prime Minister, Victoire-Tomegah Dogbé exchanged, on May 11, 2023 in his office, with a delegation from the French Development Agency (AFD) based in France, led by its Executive Director in charge of Partnerships and Communication, Mr. Papa Amadou Sarr. The discussions held in the presence of the Director of the Agency in Togo, Ms. Zolika Bouabdallah, focused on the possibility of creating a support system for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) with a view to improving their access to funding. This visit is part of the mission that the group has been carrying out since Wednesday, May 10, 2023, in the country.
In his vision to make Togo an emerging country and at peace with itself, the President of the Republic Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, has undertaken major reforms with positive indicators that continue to attract investors. The visit of the mission of the group of the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Public Bank of Investment in France in the country, falls within this objective of supporting the dynamics of the Togolese authorities through the establishment support structures for Very Small and Medium Enterprises, declared Papa Amadou Sarr, Executive Director in charge of Partnerships and Communication at AFD, after the audience with the Prime Minister.
According to him, the exchanges made it possible to discuss ways and means that can help to set up this support system for SMEs, whether it is a bank for SMEs, a bank for innovation, a support structure at the central level to support the initiatives of VSMEs with the support of France “. This step, he said, is an illustration of President Emmanuel Macron’s desire to support African economies with more than 3.5 billion euros from the French government through the Choose Africa 2 initiative which he has launched on February 27. From his explanations, the initiative supports African, French and diaspora entrepreneurs operating in the informal sector and having a project and business plan. “Primo beginners, namely fishmongers or micro fishmongers in large companies in the processing industry or the export of agricultural or pharmaceutical products who need at least 5,000 euros up to 5,000,000 euros are also concerned by this support program which is a form of sovereign loan granted to the Togolese State “. Chosse Africa 2 was born from Choose Africa 1, which has been able to support 2.7 billion entrepreneurs in Africa. Mr. Sarr reassured that arrangements are being made for this new funding program to directly benefit the beneficiaries.
Patouani BATCHAMLA
