Togo implements investment and forest management reforms

The Togolese government has initiated significant structural reforms aimed at economic modernization and environmental sustainability. During a Council of Ministers meeting presided over by Faure Gnassingbé, several key legislative and administrative changes were adopted.

In a major overhaul of the investment promotion framework, the government has dissolved the Société d’administration de la zone franche (SAZOF) and transferred its missions, assets, and personnel to the Agence de promotion des investissements et de la zone franche (API-ZF). The API-ZF’s mandate has been expanded to include the planning, management, and provision of industrial zones, with enhanced transparency mechanisms for granting approvals.

Simultaneously, the government adopted a revised forest code to address climate change and biodiversity preservation. This reform seeks to balance state sovereignty over natural resources with the rights of local populations and territorial collectivities. The new legal framework introduces more inclusive governance by involving local communities in forest classification procedures and promoting sustainable practices like agroforestry and private investment in the sector.