Togo-Cuba: Towards enhanced cooperation in health, pharmaceuticals and agriculture
Togo and Cuba have committed to a new phase of their bilateral cooperation, exploring strategic fields such as biomedicine, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture. These prospects were discussed during the visit of the Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, to Lomé on Thursday, October 9, 2025, on the occasion of his meetings with the President of the Council, Faure Gnassingbé, and Togolese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Robert Dussey.
According to the Cuban diplomat, these sectors offer concrete possibilities for collaboration, building on Cuba’s recognized expertise.
The island possesses an advanced biotechnological and pharmaceutical sector, capable of producing vaccines and medicines, and innovating in research and development.
Through this cooperation, Togo could, in the long term, develop local production of essential medicines and vaccines, reducing its dependence on imports and improving healthcare access while controlling costs and delivery times.
In the agricultural sector, Cuba benefits from advanced technologies for improving crops and livestock.
Read also: Cooperation: Success of the Lomé Peace and Security Forum: recognition of Togo by the Sahel states
Togo, which considers agriculture a key lever for its economic growth, could leverage this expertise to improve its productivity, secure its food supply chains, and support rural development.
The cooperation could thus strengthen the country’s food resilience and pave the way for sustainable innovations in agriculture.
These new areas of focus will strengthen the already solid cooperation between Lomé and Havana. For several years, Cuban doctors have been working in Togolese healthcare facilities, contributing to improving the quality of care and training local staff.
At the same time, numerous Togolese students have benefited from scholarships to study in Cuba in disciplines ranging from medicine to agriculture, consolidating human and professional ties between the two nations.
This expansion into strategic sectors illustrates the desire of both countries to pool their strengths and know-how in the service of the sustainable development of Togo and health and agricultural sovereignty. It also testifies to the importance placed on South-South cooperation, based on the sharing of expertise and innovation adapted to local realities.
The Togo-Cuba partnership therefore appears to be part of a logic of skills transfer and endogenous development, offering Togo the opportunity to strengthen its national capacities and accelerate its development in sectors essential for health and food security.
Kodjovi MAKAFUI
