Togo 2040: private sector to drive economic transformation

Lomé, July 31, 2026 — Togo is placing the private sector at the heart of its long-term economic strategy. On Thursday, July 30, key economic stakeholders gathered in Lomé to explore how businesses and investors can become central to the country’s anticipated economic transformation in the coming years.

The high-level workshop, focused on Vision Togo 2040 and the 2026-2031 Government Roadmap, brought together representatives from the World Bank Group, the Employers’ Federation, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, leading Togolese companies, and international experts. The session was inaugurated by Sandra Ablamba Johnson, Minister and Secretary-General of the Presidency, acting on behalf of President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé.

From ambition to action: redefining private sector engagement

The discussions underscored a bold objective: doubling the average standard of living for Togolese citizens and reducing poverty to below 15% by 2040. Achieving these targets, officials noted, requires leveraging the private sector’s capacity for investment and job creation, as the state alone cannot sustain such a large-scale economic transformation.

Key challenges identified include attracting more capital, nurturing domestic enterprises, and fostering an investment-friendly environment. The workshop aimed to shift the private sector from a peripheral role to a strategic partner in national development.

Concrete measures to unlock private sector potential

Participants examined practical steps to transition the private sector from a supporting actor to a driving force behind public policy. This involves reviewing investment conditions, supporting business growth, mobilizing capital, and fostering new productive activities. The inclusion of the World Bank and international experts added depth to the discussions by integrating global best practices into Togo’s economic planning.

The government’s goal is not only to set ambitious targets but to translate them into an operational framework. This requires moving from vision to execution, ensuring that the principles of Vision Togo 2040 are translated into tangible initiatives.

Private sector as the engine of future growth

The meeting in Lomé sent a clear message: Togo’s next phase of development must be powered by enterprise and private investment. By 2040, the country aims to build an economy that significantly improves living standards across the population.

For Togolese authorities, the challenge now is to turn these aspirations into policy decisions and, crucially, into measurable results. Only then can the objectives set for the coming years evolve from mere projections to tangible economic and social achievements.