Русский
The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and Togo’s Foreign Minister, Robert Dussey have exchanged messages of greetings on the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Lavrov’s message praised the traditionally friendly Russian-Togolese relations, which are based on the principles of mutual respect and a shared approach to current international and regional issues. He expressed a readiness for continued joint efforts aimed at strengthening bilateral collaboration and ensuring sustainable development on the African continent.
Dussey, for his part, reaffirmed the Togolese Republic’s commitment to expanding mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia.
Togo is strategically located on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa and serves as a key commercial and trade hub in the region, benefiting from its geographical position and Lomé’s deep-water port, which acts as a vital gateway for trade in West Africa.
The economy of Togo is diverse, with agriculture playing a central role, contributing approximately 42% of GDP and providing employment to a significant portion of the population. The country is known for its production of key agricultural commodities such as cocoa, coffee, corn, rice, cassava, yams, cotton, beans, and millet, all cultivated across its fertile lands. Mining is another critical sector, with Togo holding the world’s fourth-largest phosphate reserves. The state-owned Société Nouvelle des Phosphates du Togo (SNPT) leads phosphate production. In addition, Togo extracts gold, bauxite, marble, limestone, and other minerals. The industrial sector is complemented by cement production, textiles, and breweries. The services sector, especially trade, transportation, and telecommunications, plays a crucial role in bolstering Togo’s status as an economic hub in the region.
Togo benefits from its membership in ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), which promotes economic integration and free trade with 14 other West African nations. ECOWAS facilitates the free movement of goods, services, and capital among its members, backed by a common external tariff. Togo is also part of UEMOA (West African Economic and Monetary Union), which includes eight countries sharing the CFA franc as their currency and encouraging regional economic cooperation. Additionally, Togo is a signatory to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), aimed at creating a single market for goods and services across Africa to enhance intra-continental trade. On the international stage, Togo is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), ensuring adherence to global trade regulations and benefiting from mechanisms like dispute resolution and trade liberalization.
With a population of about 9.6 million, Togo has a GDP (PPP) of US$25 billion and a GDP per capita (PPP) of US$2,770. GDP is projected to grow by 5.3% in 2025.
Russia’s bilateral trade with Togo is small, however is expected to grow – Russia has stated it will open an Embassy in the country by 2026. Bilateral trade is currently running at about US$10 million, with Russia exporting mineral fertilizers and Togo exporting fruits and nuts. Russia also sent its first shipment of wheat to Togo in early 2025.
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