The members of the Technical Committee for Consultation between the State and the private sector met, on behalf of their first meeting of the year 2023. Chaired by the Minister Sani Yaya of Economy and Finance, this meeting worked mainly on the 2022 activity report and the Committee’s agenda, as well as on the point relating to the implementation of the main recommendations resulting from the various meetings.
Partial view of committee members.
The first meeting of the technical consultation committee between the State and the private sector, for the year 2023, was held in Lomé. It brought together several members of the government, as well as the presidents of the consular and employers’ organizations, with the clear desire to tune their violins to lay the foundations for a structural transformation of the national economy. This meeting was an opportunity to revisit the highlights of 2022 and to look ahead to the current year and those to come.
Members of the government at the working session.
From the balance sheet, we note that the year 2022 was marked by the continued consolidation of this consultation body. In addition to the common commitment to hold regular statutory meetings, direct contacts between members of the government and private sector leaders have been strengthened, in order to entrench the culture of dialogue between the State and the business world, the authorities being convinced that the development of enterprises will lead to that of the whole country. The other highlight of 2022 is the revitalization of tax dialogue between the State and the private sector, in a context of Public-Private partnership.
Private sector representatives.
For the year 2023, the committee intends to initiate, with the National Institute of Statistics, a private sector satisfaction survey. This will be an indicator that will make it possible to assess the relevance of this framework and to examine the areas for improvement to be implemented. It also intends to work on the organization of the first edition of the National Partnership Day, a framework for listening and exchanges between the government and all economic operators in Togo.
Build a relationship of trust
« We have confidence in our companies, small, medium and large, to make an effective contribution to solving the long-term challenges of our country, namely: growth, employment and innovation. Our commitment is to best support their development through a healthy and constantly improving business environment. This dialogue, desired by the highest authorities of our country, is the key to building a relationship of trust between companies and the tax administration. The government’s ambition is to have an effective tax framework allowing for optimal revenue collection that does not hinder growth, employment or the growth potential of businesses. “Said Minister Sani Yaya of Economy and Finance. He praised the leadership of the President of the Republic, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, who was able to provide the necessary impetus to ensure that the course of reforms is maintained, despite the difficult context. The Minister congratulated the public and private actors, in particular AGET, OTR, UPF and all the representatives of the private sector, for the quality and the spirit of conviviality that prevailed during the exchanges.
Cultivating resilience in the face of crises
« Today’s session is being held in a still difficult context, marked by uncertainties linked to the various health, security, economic, climatic and food crises. In this context of global crisis, Togo is maintaining the course of reforms intended to strengthen the competitiveness of its economy and the quality of its growth. The latest national reform implementation review thus shows an encouraging performance, with a physical execution rate of 75% and 68% of financial execution. This dynamic of reforms, combined with the targeted measures implemented by the government to curb the progression of inflation and preserve the purchasing power of the most vulnerable groups, make it possible to ensure great resilience in our economy. For the 2022 financial year, the growth rate thus stands at 5.8%, with inflation contained at 7.6% at the end of December 2022 and which is mainly explained by the rise in the prices of food products and transport, housing, water and gas. And I would like to reassure that the government continues, in relation with the sub-regional institutions, to work on the issue of the high cost of living concluded Minister Yaya.
The private sector, through the President of the National Council of Employers, Mr. Laurent Tamégnon, welcomed the holding of this meeting, an opportunity for dialogue to achieve the various objectives set by the government and the private sector. ” The private sector has made commitments, within the framework of the National Development Plan, namely: job creation and financing. To do this, we have to work hard to get there and the government has a duty to support us. We are aware of the difficulties arising from successive crises and which have given the private sector no respite, but we are continuing to cultivate this resilience that the Head of State recommended to us. Some of the country’s decisions have moved the private sector, in particular the decree on the minimum wage, health insurance and the transport premium”he noted, before reassuring the loyalty of the private sector alongside the State, for the accomplishment of the government roadmap.
Faustin LAGBAI
