In the heart of Rome, during the FII PRIORITY Europe 2026 summit held from June 17 to 19, the Togolese Prime Minister, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, championed a renewed economic partnership between Africa and Europe. As the guest of honor at this forum focused on European competitiveness, he underscored Togo’s ambition to emerge as a key logistics hub for transforming global supply chains.
Rome summit gathers leaders to reshape Africa-Europe economic collaboration
The Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri served as the backdrop on June 17, 2026, where Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, Togo’s Prime Minister, joined discussions at the FII PRIORITY Europe summit. Arriving a day earlier, he represented Togo at the invitation of Yasir ben Othman Al-Rumayyan, Governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Chairman of the FII Institute, the event’s organizer.
The summit, themed ‘Europe Reimagined: Capital, Sovereignty, and Strategic Autonomy’, brought together heads of state, investors, and economic policymakers. Discussions centered on financing mechanisms for reindustrialization, supply chain resilience, and workforce transformation in an AI-driven economy. Organizers highlighted projections showing eurozone growth reaching 1.2% in 2026, with potential for an additional €800 billion in private investments over the next decade.
Togo’s strategic role in deepening Africa-Europe trade and investment
During his address, the Togolese Prime Minister emphasized the growing opportunities for economic collaboration between Africa and Europe. He described Africa as a prime destination for investment flows, infrastructure development, and regional integration, driven by some of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
Togo, he noted, is positioning itself to play a pivotal role in this evolving landscape. The country is leveraging its status as a regional logistics gateway, highlighted by the efficiency of the Port of Lomé, the expansion of integrated industrial zones, and ongoing reforms to enhance the business environment. The overarching goal is to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI) and strengthen trade corridors linking Togo to its landlocked neighbors.
“A natural gateway to West Africa’s hinterland, fostering shared growth,” Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, Togo’s Prime Minister, remarked.
Lomé’s push for regional connectivity through diplomacy and innovation
The Prime Minister’s participation in Rome followed a whirlwind week of economic diplomacy for Togo. Just three days prior, he inaugurated the inaugural African Air Transport Convention and Exhibition in Lomé. These parallel initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to making connectivity—whether through ports, aviation, or digital networks—a cornerstone of its national development strategy.
