venue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212

FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Karl HOFMANN

embassy: Angle Rue Kouenou and Rue 15 Beniglato, Lome

mailing address: B. P. 852, Lome

telephone: [228] 21 29 91 through 21 29 94

FAX: [228] 21 79 52

Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of green (top and
bottom) alternating with yellow; there is a white five-pointed star
on a red square in the upper hoist-side corner; uses the popular
pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Togo Economy

Economy - overview: This small sub-Saharan economy is heavily
dependent on both commercial and subsistence agriculture, which
provides employment for 65% of the labor force. Some basic
foodstuffs must still be imported. Together, cocoa, coffee, and
cotton generate some 40% of export earnings, with cotton being the
most significant cash crop despite falling prices on the world
market. In the industrial sector, phosphate mining is by far the
most important activity. Togo is the world's fourth largest
producer, and geological advantages keep production costs low. The
recently privatized mining operation, Office Togolais des Phosphates
(OTP), is slowly recovering from a steep fall in prices in the early
1990's, but continues to face the challenge of tough foreign
competition, exacerbated by weakening demand. Togo serves as a
regional commercial and trade center. It continues to expand its
duty-free export-processing zone (EPZ), launched in 1989, which has
attracted enterprises from France, Italy, Scandinavia, the US,
India, and China and created jobs for Togolese nationals. The
government's decade-long effort, supported by the World Bank and the
IMF, to implement economic reform measures, encourage foreign
investment, and bring revenues in line with expenditures has
stalled. Progress depends on following through on privatization,
increased openness in government financial operations, progress
towards legislative elections, and possible downsizing of the
military, on which the regime has depended to stay in place. Lack of
foreign aid, deterioration of the financial sector, energy
shortages, and depressed commodity prices continue to constrain
economic growth; however, Togo did realize a 3% gain in GDP in 1999.
The takeover of the national power company by a Franco-Canadian
consortium in 2000 should ease the energy crisis and if successful