Togo and Canada have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, with a renewed focus on expanding trade, boosting development cooperation and deepening collaboration on regional security challenges, officials said following high-level talks in Lomé on Saturday.
The meeting between Togolese President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé and Canadian High Commissioner Myriam Montrat comes as both countries seek to diversify their economic engagement beyond traditional sectors and strengthen resilience amid growing security concerns in West Africa.
According to official figures cited during the discussions, bilateral trade between Togo and Canada stood at about US$132.4 million in 2023, reflecting steady but still limited commercial exchanges. Both sides agreed that there is significant room to expand trade volumes and diversify the structure of exports and imports.
Canadian exports to Togo are largely composed of vehicles, machinery and industrial equipment, while Togo’s exports to Canada are dominated by agricultural products, particularly soy-based goods and other primary commodities.
Officials said the objective moving forward is to broaden this relationship beyond raw materials and equipment trade, with a stronger emphasis on value addition, agricultural transformation and private sector investment.
Canada already plays a significant development role in Togo. Between 2022 and 2023, Ottawa provided nearly US$24.9 million (about US$18 million USD equivalent) in development assistance to support programmes in education, healthcare, governance and gender equality. Both sides expressed interest in building on these initiatives to strengthen human capital development and inclusive growth.
Beyond economic cooperation, security featured prominently in the discussions. Authorities stressed that peace and stability are essential prerequisites for attracting investment and sustaining long-term development in the region.
Canada is currently supporting Togo through several capacity-building programmes targeting transnational crime, terrorism financing and money laundering. These initiatives include technical training for security institutions and support for financial monitoring systems aimed at improving regulatory oversight.
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A key component of the cooperation involves maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, one of the world’s most strategic but increasingly vulnerable shipping corridors. The region has faced rising risks linked to piracy, illicit trafficking and other forms of maritime crime, prompting international partners to strengthen joint responses.
Officials said Canada’s assistance includes training and operational support designed to enhance surveillance and response capabilities along Togo’s coastline, which serves as an important gateway for regional trade.
The talks also underscored Togo’s broader ambition to position itself as a stable investment hub in coastal West Africa. Lomé has in recent years expanded its role as a logistics and financial centre, benefiting from infrastructure investments and its strategic Atlantic location.
Both sides noted that strengthening institutional capacity and improving governance frameworks will be key to attracting higher levels of foreign direct investment.
The renewed engagement also reflects a wider trend of West African countries seeking to diversify their international partnerships amid shifting global economic and security dynamics. Several states in the region are increasingly prioritising cooperation with non-traditional partners in addition to long-standing relationships with European and North American allies.
Officials described the Lomé talks as part of a long-term effort to elevate the Togo-Canada partnership into a more comprehensive framework covering trade, security, governance and human development.
While the current scale of economic exchange remains modest, both governments expressed optimism that ongoing reforms and targeted cooperation could unlock new opportunities, particularly in agriculture, infrastructure and capacity-building sectors.
The two sides agreed to maintain regular dialogue and continue exploring concrete projects aimed at translating political commitments into measurable economic and security outcomes.
