An Introduction to Togo
The territory now known as Togo was defined by Germany, which claimed it after its representative Gustav Nachtigal signed a treaty with Mlapa III, chief of the southern town of Togoville in 1884. Togo is hilly in the centre, with tropical savannah to the north and a plateau to the south. In earlier centuries the area had been entered and settled by a large number of tribes, and since the sixteenth had formed part of the 'Slave Coast. After the First World War, France assumed control, and in 1960 Togo became independent. See full country profile.Latest Research News from Africa
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GOVERNMENT: republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule
AREA: 56,785 sq km
POPULATION: 6,771,993 (July 2011 est.)
MAJOR LANGUAGE: Official Language: French
Some business and general info
The Market Research Industry
Trade and Industry in Togo
The country's passion for football, which reached a high point with its team qualifying for the 2006 World Cup - continues despite many problems, including conflicts within the national association, pay disputes and an attack on the team bus at the 2010 African Nations Cup. Star player Adebayor was once known as 'The Baby Kanu' due to his idolisation of the Nigerian player.
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The territory now known as Togo was defined by Germany, which claimed it after its representative Gustav Nachtigal signed a treaty with Mlapa III, chief of the southern town of Togoville in 1884. Togo is hilly in the centre, with tropical savannah to the north and a plateau to the south. In earlier centuries the area had been entered and settled by a large number of tribes, and since the sixteenth had formed part of the 'Slave Coast. After the First World War, France assumed control, and in 1960 Togo became independent.
Attempts at establishing democracy were subverted in 1967 by a military coup in which Gnassingbã Eyadãma became President - he became the longest ruling dictator in Africa by the time of his death in 2005; and his son Faure Gnassingbã was then named President by the army - a position later confirmed by elections which have been disputed, though described by some international observers as 'mostly free and fair'.
GDP: $5.974 billion (2010 est.) - $900 per capita (2010 est.)
Religions Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%
Currency: CFA Franc (XOF) - $1 = 752 XOF
Telephone Code: +228
Research Industry
The West Africa Region (Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Togo and Mali) had an MR industry turnover of $US 51m in 2010, up 10.8% on 2009.Togo's economy depends heavily on commercial and subsistence agriculture, which employs 65% of the labour force. A decade of attempts at economic reform have moved slowly, with the encouragement of more international investment still a priority, although 95% of the country's debt was 'forgiven' by 2010.
Cocoa, coffee, and cotton generate about 40% of export earnings with cotton being the most important cash crop, although its production is currently declining. Togo is the world's fourth-largest producer of phosphate but investment is also lacking here. India and Germany are Togo's main export partners, and in 2010 total value was $825m.
China is responsible for a massive 48% of Togo's imports, with France (8.3%) and the USA (6.1%) trailing far behind. 2010 imports valued at $1.292bn were made up of machinery, food and petroleum products.
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laurence@mrweb.com
