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Under the high patronage of His Excellency Mr Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Togolese Council, the fourth edition of the UK–West and Central Africa Forum on Trade and Investment (UK-WCAF IV) was officially launched today at the Hôtel 2 Février in Lomé. Organised for the first time on African soil, this strategic event marks a decisive turning point in economic relations between the United Kingdom and Francophone West and Central Africa.
In his welcoming address, Essowé Georges Barcola, Minister of Finance and Budget, highlighted Togo’s growing role as a platform for international dialogue: “Over the years, Togo, and particularly its capital Lomé, has established itself as a natural setting for dialogue and cooperation conducive to consolidating constructive partnerships and promoting a more integrated and prosperous Africa.”
In his inaugural speech, the President of the Council, His Excellency Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, set out a clear vision for this new chapter in relations: “We are opening a new chapter in the partnership between the United Kingdom and Francophone Africa today. We want to move from a relationship of assistance based on donations to genuine economic relations based on exchange, investment, value creation and the complementarity of ex- pertise.”
The Togolese leader was realistic in his approach. “This forum must be a platform for an Africa that undertakes, innovates and transforms. Our African SMEs are ready to grow. In agro-industry, digital technology and services, they are ready to cross a new threshold, that of regional and global integration. To do this, they do not really need assistance, but smart partnerships. They lack access to capital, processing and technological partnerships. The United Kingdom can play a key role in this ecosystem, by supporting patient investment, connecting incubators and innovation funds. Investing in African SMEs today is the most profitable bet on the continent’s future.”
One of the key moments of the forum was the renewal of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Togo and UK Export Finance (UKEF), marking a strengthened commitment to promoting bilateral trade and investment. This new agreement expands cooperation in the fields of agriculture, transport, energy and drinking water, building on the existing protocol that has enabled priority projects to be carried out and new capital flows to be mobilised. The signing reaffirms UKEF’s role in reducing the risks associated with British investments in high-growth African markets, while supporting Togo’s ambition to position itself as a gateway for industrial development and sustai- nable infrastructure in the region.
The first day also featured a series of country sessions detailing investment opportunities. As far as Togo is concerned, the country positioned itself during the discussions as a regional investment platform thanks to its economic reforms, the Port of Lomé (one of the most efficient in the region), and its young workforce. Contributions from Dr Arthur Trimua, Minister Delegate for Investment Promotion and Economic Sovereignty, Ms Cina Lawson, Minister for Digital Transformation, and executives from Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Asky Airlines highlighted progress in logistics and the digitalisation of administration.
Cameroon presented its growing domestic market, its infrastructure reforms and its status as a privileged partner of the United Kingdom, benefiting from an advantageous economic partnership agreement. Senegal highlighted economic diversification, the expanding oil and gas sector, and opportunities linked to hosting the 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Through the interventions of its delegates, Mauritania presented the potential of its mineral re- sources (iron, gold, copper) and its efforts to diversify the economy, supported by new bilateral trade agreements. Benin is banking on its port as a regional commercial hub and its potential in agricultural exports (cotton, cashew nuts), as are Côte d’Ivoire, the DRC and Guinea.
The 2025 edition of the forum aims to build on the tangible achievements of previous forums, which have gene- rated more than £2 billion in trade and investment since 2022. Among the flagship projects: a £170 million road corridor linking Benin and Togo, and a £60 million agreement with Cameroon to revitalise agricultural land. The forum continues on Thursday 13 November with other crucial thematic sessions on access to capital, SME finan- cing, insurance and reinsurance, agribusiness and education. The day will end with the WCAF Excellence Awards ceremony, honouring the best initiatives in twelve categories, including sustainable development, technological innovation and economic empowerment.
