Since February 7, a new digital platform called Assinyon (“affordable” in French) has been operational in Togo. This online showcase is dedicated to promoting local products.
The initiative was launched by the Ministry Delegate in charge of Trade and Quality Control and positions itself as an innovative solution to structure e-commerce in Togo. Assinyon aims to provide Togolese entrepreneurs with visibility and a platform to promote their products. In the long term, the platform also seeks to contribute to the development of e-commerce in the national market.
Designed to be functional and autonomous, the solution integrates an advanced self-publishing system. “When an entrepreneur publishes a product, it is first validated by the ministry. Once validation is obtained, the product is automatically linked to the platform’s dedicated pages and social media networks,” explained developer Eastman Lokossa, as quoted by Togo First.
Beyond a simple administrative procedure, this mechanism is intended to serve as a genuine mark of trust for consumers. “The products showcased will not only comply with quality requirements, as they will be validated by the ministry’s inspection services, but the visuals will also be optimized to better meet market standards,” he added.
The system therefore helps promote products online without requiring entrepreneurs to master the often complex algorithms of social media platforms. The requirements—both product quality and presentation quality—aim to professionalize the image of local micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and strengthen their competitiveness against major international e-commerce platforms.
For Mensah Koffi Vinyo, Chief of Staff at the ministry, this initiative addresses the visibility challenges faced by many micro and small enterprises.
The platform aims to bridge the digital market access gap and facilitate connections between producers and consumers.
