Abstract

The Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) can play an important role in accelerating the economic growth potential of a country. The exponentially rapid spread of ICT is deeply affecting the social, political, economic and cultural spheres in even in poor countries like Togo. We evaluated the appropriation of ICT in Togo to determine its potential to integrate its economy into global production networks through a techno-economic paradigm shift. In Togo, ITC has impacted education, health, rural development, economic and public management and other infrastructures. Many difficulties handicap the evaluation of changes in ICT and its consequences on economic growth. Therefore, the concept of ICTs has remained vague with regard to the ever changing diversity of its components and applications. Qualitative approach was used for theoretical foundations of the relationship between ICTs and economic growth while the quantitative approach focuses on the contribution of NICTs to economic development in Togo. Our analysis indicates that despite the exponential diffusion of NICTs and their admirable contribution in the economic development of developing countries, Togo remains marginalized. This is based on the synthesis that digital economy should not only be measured by the weight of ICT sector but also by the impact of ICTs on the whole national economic activity.

Key words: ICT, Economic development, shift, production, network, Togo.