Embassy of India
Lomé

India-Togo Bilateral Brief

Political relations - India and Togo have cordial bilateral relations. India recognized the Togolese Republic since it attained independence in 1960. Togo opened its Embassy in New Delhi in 2010 and since then is headed by a Charge d’Affaires. In line with the cabinet decision of opening 18 Missions in Africa, India opened its Embassy in Togo on 3rd September 2020. The first resident Ambassador to Togo presented his credentials on 23 July 2021.

Then Togolese President Mr. Gnassingbe Eyadema paid a state visit to India from 26 to 29 September 1994. Being the first visit by a President of Togo, this opened a new chapter in mutual relations and added an impetus to bilateral cooperation between the countries. (Earlier, in,1989, Eyadema had made a brief stopover in Calcutta on his way to China)

Togo signed and ratified the Framework Agreement of the international Solar Alliance (ISA) and at the joint invitation extended by Prime Minister Modi and French President Macron, President Faure Gnassingbe participated in the International Solar Alliance Founding Conference held in New Delhi on 11 March 2018.Togolese President had a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister.

The Togolese Foreign Minister Mr. Robert Dussey led the Togolese delegation to the IAFS Summit in New Delhi (27-30 October 2015) and he had a bilateral meeting with then EAM on 28 October 2015. The Togolese Minister of Commerce, Industry and Private Sector Ms. Essossima Legzim Balouki also visited India to take part in the Trade Ministers meet on the sidelines of IAFS-III on 23-24 October 2015

Togo’s participation at the annual CII-EXIM Bank Conclaves has been at high level. Ms. Essossimna Legzim-Balouki, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Private sector Promotion, led the Togolese delegation to the 9th CII-EXIM Bank conclave held in Delhi in March, 2013; 11th CII-EXIM Bank conclave in 2016 ;12th conclave in 2017 and 13th CII-EXIM Bank conclave on India-Africa Project Partnership held at New Delhi from 25-27 March ,2018. Ambassador of Togo to Nigeria, accompanied by Mr. Mensah Koffi Vinyo, Director of private sector promotion attended the CII-EXIM Bank India-West Africa Regional Conclave held at Abuja, Nigeria on 8-9 October, 2018. Minister of Commerce, Industry and Local Consumption Mr. Kodjo ADEDZE took part in the 16th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave held on virtual platform on 13-15 July 2021.

Mos External Affairs Shri V. Muraleedharan visited Togo from 5-6 September 2019. During the visit, MoS called on H.E. President, had a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister and Minister of Mines and Energy and Digital Innovation. He also delivered an address at the Diplomatic Club of Lomé and interacted with the Indian community.

Mos Defense, Dr Subash Bhamre visited Togo to participate in the AU Extraordinary Summit on Maritime Safety and security in October 2016. India had gifted US 100,000 for hosting of the summit in response to request made by Togolese Foreign Minister to EAM on the margins of 3rd IAFS in October 2015. Called on the Prime Minister of Togo Dr Komi Selom Klassou during the visit.

Shri Anand Sharma, MOS(AS), met the President of Togo on 7 March 2007 in Accra during their visit to Ghana to participate in the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Ghana’s independence and discussed with him various issues of mutual interest.

Lok Sabha Speaker, Dr. Balram Jakhar, visited Lomé in 1985 for the Inter-Parliamentary Conference.

Earlier, Prime Minister Gilbert Fousson Houngbo had led a Togolese delegation to the 6th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave in India in March 2010 and 12th Regional Conclave in India in March 2010 and the 12th Regional Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnership in Accra on 03 June 2010. He again visited India leading a 50 members delegation in March, 2011 for the 7th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Partnership. Minister of cooperation NEPAD of Togo led the Togolese delegation for the CII Conclave in October 2006. High level government and the business delegations participated in the CII –EXIM Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnership held in November 2005 and in May 2006 in Accra.

Mr. Mustafa Mijiyawa, Minister of Health and Social Protection of the government of Togo attended the Fourth India-Africa Health Forum organized at Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai on 16 March, 2018. HE Mr. Antoine Lekpa Gbegbeni, Minister of Water Sanitation and Village Hydraulics led a five members delegation to attend the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention held a New Delhi from 29 September to 02 October 2018. Mr Marc Dederiwe Ably Bidamon, Minister of Mines and Energy; led a delegation for the 1st General Assembly of the International Solar Alliance held a New Delhi from 2-5 October 2018. Togo took part in CoWin Global Conclave held virtually on 5 July 2021 through participation of six medical doctors and technology experts.

The senior diplomatic Advisor to the President, Mr KOFFI Esaw, visited India in October,2010 in connection with inauguration of the resident Mission of Togo in India.

A delegation led by Secretary (Fertilizers) visited Togo on 10-11 July 2013. A 3-member delegation led by additional Secretary, Department of Agriculture Research and Education visit Togo in December 2013.

Shri Kailash Satyarthi, the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner and honorary President of the Global March against Child Labour was received by the Speaker of Togolese Parliament in March 2018.

Development Partnership - India has extended five Lines of Credit (LOCs) worth US $150 million bilaterally to Togo for various projects. The projects implemented/signed/approved are: (I) US $15 million Rural electrification project in 2011; (II) US $13.10 million Farming and cultivation of rice, maize and sorghum in 2012; (III) US $30 million Rural Electrification to cover 150 localities in 2016; (IV) US $52 million setting up of 161 KV power transmission line in 2016; and (V) US $40 million project to support electrification of 350 villages through deployment of solar photovoltaic systems in June 2021. In addition, US $20 million Line of Credit project to equip health institutions and US 413 million towards upgradation of power generation and distribution capacity of CEET were also extended through EBID.

On 15 July 2019, a project to promote biodiversity friendly livelihoods in the Fazao- Malfakassa National Park (North-Togo) funded by the government of India through the India UN Fund for Development partnership for US 1 million launched in Lomé. The project will be implemented by the UNESCO. The project consists of setting up a biosphere reserve around the Fazao-Malfakassa National Park. The project, which reflects the dynamism of South-South cooperation, aims to preserve biodiversity and the problems of deforestation, land degradation and the decline of agricultural production. India has provided economic assistance to Togo in the form of tractors(60), water pump, sewing machine, ambulance, transport vehicles, corn-grinding machine etc. .On the request from Togolese government, India extended grant assistance that included supply of indelible ink in 2002 for the elections held in Togo ;India rendered humanitarian assistance in form of medicines to ameliorate the suffering of the victims of the floods in 2008 ;Togolese government approached India for support in organizing the AU Maritime Security Summit in Lomé to be held in October 2016, for with an assistance of US $100,000 was extended.

Commercial Relations: India is among the top trading partners of Togo. Togo is already one of the beneficiaries of the Duty-Free Trade Preference scheme. According to available statistics, total bilateral trade between the two countries for the last few years is follows:

India’s major exports to Togo include mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; cereals and preparation of cereals cotton; articles of apparel and clothing; iron and steel articles; man- made filament; man-made staple fibers; drugs and pharmaceuticals; machinery mechanical appliances; plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof; vehicles and parts and accessories thereof; etc. Imports from Togo include natural phosphates, ferrous and copper waste and scrap; wood and articles of wood; others metal scrap; oil; seeds; coconut and brazil nut etc. and raw cotton.

ITEC - India offers training in human resource development under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC). The utilization for ITEC slots by Togo during last few years is as follows: In 2018-2019, Togo has so far utilized 13 ITEC slots ,4 ITEC(Defense) slots and 3 slots under IAFS. During the years 2016-2017, Togo utilized 14 slots and 21 slots in the year 2017-2018. 268 slots have been utilized by Togo since 13 years. As part of outreach, Mission has met about 60 ITEC scholars, 15 researchers (professors) who have been trained under the prestigious CV Raman Fellowship Programme; and 27 Togolese alumni who have either worked in India or studied in India. Over 250 ITEC scholars have been trained in India since 2007-08.

Cultural Relations - To mark Freedom 70/India@70 celebrations, a performance by an Odissi Dance troupe sponsored by Ministry of culture (GOL) was organized on 09th August 2017. An Indian dance ensemble had earlier visited Togo in 1984. The International Day of Yoga was organized on 21 June 2015. The 2nd International Day of Yoga was marked on 26 June 2016. The third Yoga Day was celebrated on 24 June 2017. The 7th International Day of Yoga was celebrated on 21 June 2021.

Indian Community - Indian community in Togo is small and there are about 700-800 Indians living in the country. Most of them are in business engaged in trading, assembling, running super market, hotel etc. The community has an Association. Steel Cube factory in Kara (100% Indian equity), Voltic group, WACEM group, Ramco, TVS, and Golden Harvest are some of the big companies by Indian diaspora, employing thousands of jobs locally.

March 2022