The Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment delivered a compelling address at the conclusion of the 20th India-Africa Business Conclave, positioning the West African nation as a prime investment destination and regional gateway.
Speaking at the valedictory session, the Minister emphasized The Gambia’s commitment to economic transformation under President Adama Barrow’s leadership, highlighting several flagship initiatives designed to attract international investment and strengthen trade partnerships.
Strategic Location as Regional Hub The Minister underscored The Gambia’s unique geographical advantages, describing the country as “a gateway to West Africa” with the River Gambia providing “a natural harbor and direct access to a market of over 400 million people through coastal shipping and inland river transport .
” This strategic positioning, the Minister noted, makes The Gambia “an ideal regional hub for logistics and transshipment,” particularly as the government implements major infrastructure projects to capitalize on this potential. Major Infrastructure Developments Central to The Gambia’s economic vision is the Banjul Port Expansion and Modernization Project, which the Minister described as “a flagship Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative to expand capacity, modernize operations, and automate processes, aiming to turn the Port of Banjul into a smart logistics hub for the subregion.” The government has also launched the National Single Window project, implemented by The Gambia Revenue Authority, which “presents potential for further investment to develop advanced e-tracking, automated customs clearance, and integrated logistics management solutions.” Economic Zones and Investment Opportunities .
The Minister highlighted the Trans-Gambia Corridor Special Economic Zone project, which offers “opportunities for private investment in warehousing, packaging, light assembly, agro-processing, and value-addition manufacturing, enabling efficient export of finished goods by leveraging the AfCFTA and other market access preferences.” Priority sectors for collaboration identified during the Conclave include agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, renewable energy, healthcare, and logistics. Commitment to Democratic Values and Trade Emphasizing The Gambia’s political stability, the Minister stated that the country “remains a steadfast supporter of the multilateral, rules-based global trading system” and offers “a stable, democratic, and investment-friendly environment” under President Barrow’s leadership.
The Minister praised the principles of “democracy, respect for the rule of law, transparency and accountability” as foundations for the country’s economic transformation efforts. AfCFTA Implementation Priority The address highlighted The Gambia’s commitment to implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), positioning this as a key component of the country’s trade strategy and regional integration efforts.
The Minister noted that the government has “embarked on several initiatives to strengthen our trade and investment landscape, including prioritizing the implementation of the AfCFTA.” India Partnership and Technology Transfer Acknowledging India’s development trajectory, the Minister stated that “India’s impressive trajectory in digital public infrastructure offers a significant blueprint that we in The Gambia are keen to learn from, and adapt for our own development priorities.” The two-day Conclave facilitated productive Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings between Gambian and Indian companies, with the Minister noting that these sessions were “immensely beneficial for The Gambia, enabling our government and private sector to network and connect with Indian counterparts.” Recovery-Focused Development Plan The Minister referenced The Gambia’s Recovery-Focused National Development Plan, known as “Yiriwa,” as the framework underpinning the country’s commitment to “democratic consolidation and economic revitalization.” Call for Continued Partnership In concluding remarks, the Minister called for collective efforts to “translate our discussions into actionable plans, embrace innovation and technology transfer, and champion the principles of a rules-based trading system to support equitable economic transformation
” The Minister expressed The Gambia’s readiness to “work hand-in-hand with the Government and businesses of India, and Africa for a brighter, more prosperous future for all our peoples.” The 20th India-Africa Business Conclave, organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Government of India, focused on critical sectors including agriculture and food security, manufacturing, industrialization, digital and physical infrastructure, energy, and healthcare.
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