Lomé — A two-day meeting was convened by the Togo National Trade Consultative Forum (NTCF) in the country's capital, Lomé to promote and enhance multi-stakeholder policy dialogue and advocacy on trade, and to provide a platform to debate and exchange views on all the critical issues relating to trade at the national, regional or global levels. Held on 5-6 June, the Forum's objectives were to review key trade and related issues and challenges faced by the country in the areas of domestic, regional and international trade. Experts deliberated and agreed on common approaches and solutions to address the key challenges and agreed on an implementation plan with clear targets, timelines and expected outcomes. The Forum's outcomes will feed into trade priority sector programmes to be implemented by the Ministry of Trade

In his opening remarks, the Prime Minster of Togo, Mr. Kwesi Ahoomey-Zun emphasized the important role trade plays in raising incomes of people and urged the Government to create an enabling environment for the private sector to carry out their businesses objectives.

In addition to the Prime Minister, twelve ministers and over two hundred government officials from key ministries, departments and agencies whose functions impact on trade were in attendance. Others included parliamentarians, private sector operators (large, medium, small and micro entrepreneurs), civil society, academia, organizations providing business support services to the private sector, financial institutions, gender and environment advocates, development partners and the media.