Under the high patronage of His Excellency Mr. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Council, more than 1,500 economic actors from the public and private sectors gathered in Lomé for the 4th Forum on Trade and Investment between the United Kingdom and Francophone West and Central Africa (UK-WCAF IV).
The second day continued with in-depth discussions on strategic investment, regional integration, and sustainable development.
Leaders present explored concrete ways to unlock financing for infrastructure, energy, digital innovation, agrifood, and education, while sharing perspectives on strengthening trade corridors, supporting SMEs, empowering youth, and promoting inclusive economic growth.
Ministers, policymakers, investors, business leaders, and representatives of international financial institutions exchanged on practical ways to mobilise financing for infrastructure, agrifood, energy, digital innovation, and education.
Mr. Essowè Georges Barcola, Minister of Finance and Budget, closed the forum with an unequivocal assessment: “These two days have been very fruitful in meetings and exchanges. We have benefited from strategic advice and shared experiences that will help us transform dialogue into concrete projects. We are grateful to our British partners and the other countries represented here.”
Mr. Ben Coleman, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister for Francophone Africa, added: “When His Majesty’s Government set out to strengthen its engagement in this wonderful part of Africa, it had not fully measured the scale of the task nor the success that would follow. Each of the UK-WCAF events held in London has been such a success that here we are today in Africa for the first time. We had 1,500 participants here, exchanging on projects, discussing the future, and exploring opportunities to create wealth in their countries. I am particularly grateful to the President of the Council for his personal interest in what we are trying to accomplish here.”
During the panels, country sessions, and deal rooms, the ministers of Togo, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, and Guinea shared their reform priorities aimed at strengthening competitiveness and cross-border integration. The discussions echoed President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé’s call to go beyond aid and prioritise mutual investment, productive infrastructure, green growth, and digital transformation.
The forum concluded with the second edition of the Awards for Excellence in Francophone Africa, honouring organisations and individuals shaping the future of the region. The categories included: Outstanding Investment in Infrastructure, Innovation, Disruption and Technology, Excellence in Agrifood, Economic Empowerment and Social Inclusion, and Young Entrepreneur/Ambassador of the Year. Among the awardees was notably the Government of Togo, recognised for its actions in empowerment and social inclusion, among others.
Presenting the award, the Honourable Ben Coleman stated: “The Government of Togo is honoured here for its consistent leadership and commitment to national transformation through forward-looking reforms and development initiatives. Togo continues to demonstrate the strategic vision that focused governance can achieve.”
On the sidelines of the forum, the British delegation, led by the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Francophone Africa, The Hon. Ben Coleman, was received in audience by the President of the Council, His Excellency Mr. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé. On this occasion, Ben Coleman warmly praised the exceptional quality of the work and the personal commitment of the President of the Council.
“It was a great honour for us to be with the Presidentof the Council. We are in Togo to deepen relations between the United Kingdom and Francophone West Africa in terms of trade,” said Ben Coleman. “What particularly moved and touched me was not only that Togo organised a conference of extraordinary quality, but also that the President himself lent his support with a very well-received speech, laying out his ambitious vision for a new chapter in our partnership”, he added.
Organised by DMA Invest in partnership with the British Government, the FCDO, the DBT, and UKEF, and in collaboration with the Togolese Republic, the forum concluded with a strong commitment from stakeholders to transform discussions into concrete projects. Participants reaffirmed their determination to strengthen collaboration between the United Kingdom and Francophone Africa, leveraging strategic partnerships to boost investment, innovation, and sustainable development across the region. The outcomes of UK-WCAF IV pave the way for continued dialogue, concrete initiatives, and tangible impact ahead of the next edition of the forum.
Beyond the quality of the discussions and the strategic significance of the Forum, Togo once again demonstrated that it is truly a land of hospitality. Togo succeeded in offering a serene, open, and conducive environment for high level meetings, true to its tradition of openness, friendliness, and dialogue
