Gambia and Senegal have reached trade agreements following amicable discussions between President Adama Barrow and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, aimed at resolving trade issues for the mutual benefit of their nations. On Wednesday, 8th May 2024, Gambia’s Trade Minister Baboucarr Ousmaila Joof led a successful delegation to Senegal.
In collaboration with his Senegalese counterpart, Dr. Serigne Gueye Diop, Minister of Commerce and Industry, they deliberated on bilateral trade facilitations and reiterated their dedication to creating a favorable environment for trade, transit, and investment between the two countries, which share a common socio-historical background.
They also agreed to enhance cooperation in industrial development to boost production and productivity, promote value addition, and generate employment opportunities for the youthful populations of both nations.
During visits to the Diamniadio and Sandiara Industrial Zones near Dakar, Minister Joof, acknowledging the Senegalese industrial achievements, detailed The Gambia’s plans to establish special economic and industrial zones designed to stimulate agro-processing.
The ministers have scheduled a meeting for July 2024 in the Senegalese town of Sally. This gathering will convene experts and technicians from their respective ministries, customs, standards bureaus, food safety authorities, weights and measures, investment promotion agencies, and the Chambers of Commerce from both countries. The meeting aims to discuss and implement concrete actions to ease cross-border trade, address trade and transit obstacles, promote investment, and develop joint industrial zones to bolster economic growth in both nations.
To further tripartite trade among neighboring countries, Ministers Joof and Gueye Diop also agreed to invite Guinea Bissau to finalize the development.
