Togo: President Faure Gnassingbé calls for a win-win partnership at the Korea-Africa summit
The inaugural Korea-Africa Summit marked a significant moment as President Faure Gnassingbé expressed his deep satisfaction with the event’s organization. He viewed this summit as a golden opportunity to forge a partnership that would be mutually beneficial, drawing inspiration from the successful Korean development model.
President Faure Gnassingbé shared his bold vision for African development, highlighting two pivotal conditions: a strategic focus on external engagement and the imperative of building a state that strategizes for progress.
Togo, he noted, exemplified these principles as its economic openness was not just desirable but essential.
“Togo, with its small size, cannot afford to isolate itself. Its strategic positioning at the heart of West Africa, coupled with a thriving deep-water port, makes Togo a natural regional hub poised to engage with a transforming West African market of 400 million consumers”, he passionately emphasized.
The President underscored the indispensable role of African states in driving this development agenda, emphasizing the need to foster a conducive environment for private sector growth.
“It is incumbent upon the state to nurture the private sector. Today, it is widely recognized that economic openness must be coupled with a business-friendly ecosystem. This includes legal stability, fiscal predictability, measures supporting robust public-private partnerships, and ongoing initiatives to enhance openness,” he declared with conviction, outlining the strides Togo has made across various sectors.
The summit’s positive energy was palpable, culminating in pledges nearing $24 billion in financing from Korea for African development.
A symbolic dinner hosted by the Korean President for African leaders underscored the depth and significance of this burgeoning intercontinental collaboration, heralding a new era of strategic partnership and shared prosperity.
Kodjovi Makafui
