Togo’s President champions a renewed strategic partnership between Europe and Africa at FII PRIORITY Europe

The President of Togo’s Council, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, is actively participating in the FII PRIORITY Europe summit, a high-level gathering focused on financing reindustrialization, supply chain resilience, and the evolving nature of work in the age of artificial intelligence.

Addressing an international audience, the Togolese leader advocated for a fundamental transformation in Europe-Africa relations. He emphasized the need to move beyond traditional cooperation models, instead fostering strategic partnerships built on shared economic interests, productive investment, and mastered interdependencies.

A call to move beyond outdated cooperation frameworks

In his speech, the Togolese President highlighted how both Europe and Africa now face similar global challenges, shaped by geopolitical tensions and intense economic competition. He argued that conventional aid-based or cooperation models no longer align with today’s realities.

« The focus should shift from aid or traditional cooperation to building a more balanced strategic relationship between Europe and Africa, » he declared.

The President stressed that both continents must develop partnerships capable of addressing modern challenges tied to economic, energy, and technological sovereignty.

Strategic autonomy through balanced interdependencies

Faure Gnassingbé presented his vision of strategic autonomy—not as a form of withdrawal, but as a smarter organization of economic relations between states. He pointed out that recent global crises have underscored the importance of interdependencies, provided they are more secure, balanced, and predictable.

He believes Europe and Africa possess natural complementarities that could pave the way for a fresh model of cooperation, one that benefits both sides.

Europe-Africa: shaping a mutually beneficial partnership

The Togolese leader emphasized that Europe seeks reliable partners to secure its supply chains and boost competitiveness, while Africa requires capital, technology, and infrastructure to accelerate its economic transformation.

« These needs are not opposing forces. They can reinforce each other, » he stated.

Gnassingbé asserted that the EU-Africa partnership should be redefined as a convergence of strategic interests, delivering tangible benefits for both continents.

Togo’s ambition to become a West African logistics hub

During discussions on national strategy, the Togolese President reaffirmed his country’s goal of establishing itself as a key logistics, industrial, and commercial platform in West Africa. This vision hinges on several key pillars:

• Modernizing the Port of Lomé;
• Expanding regional trade corridors;
• Facilitating smoother trade flows;
• Digitalizing administrative procedures.

He noted that these investments are not solely for Togo’s benefit—they also contribute to the economic resilience of the entire subregion.

An Africa focused on production and value creation

Faure Gnassingbé emphasized Africa’s determination to move beyond its traditional role as a mere supplier of raw materials. He stressed the continent’s aspiration to become a hub of production, transformation, and innovation, capable of generating greater local value.

He also highlighted that a more industrialized and integrated Africa would present significant opportunities for Europe and international investors alike.

Enhancing Togo’s appeal to global investors

The Togolese President’s participation in the FII PRIORITY Europe summit serves as a platform to showcase the country’s logistical, industrial, and financial strengths to global economic decision-makers.

For Lomé, this international engagement is part of a broader strategy to attract more investment, forge robust partnerships, and solidify its position as a leading economic hub in the region.

The summit brought together key figures, including Yasir ben Othman Al-Rumayyan, Chairman of the Board of the Future Investment Initiative Institute, and Richard Attias, Founder and Executive Chairman of the institution, alongside political leaders, investors, and representatives of international financial institutions.