By Mahzouba Maya Faal
In a historic gathering in Dakar, Senegal, high-ranking officials from The Gambia and Senegal, along with a distinguished assembly of diplomats, cabinet ministers, and industry leaders from both nations, converged at The Gambia-Senegal Economic, Trade, and Investment Forum.
The event, held on Thursday, 26th October, 2023, marked a pivotal moment in the collaboration between the two nations.
The Vice President of The Republic of The Gambia, His Excellency Mohammed B.S Jallow, and the Prime Minister of Senegal, His Excellency Amadou Ba, led the distinguished gathering.
In his keynote address, Vice President Jallow expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Government and people of Senegal for their warm hospitality during his visit to Dakar, underscoring the historical significance of the occasion. He also extended his appreciation to the event organizers - The Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GiEPA) and the National Agency for the Promotion of Investments and Major Works (APIX-S.A) in Dakar, for their relentless efforts towards fostering cultural celebrations and facilitating economic ties between the two nations.
Furthermore, Vice President Mohammed Jallow highlighted the pressing challenges faced by both countries, including the impacts of climate change, mounting debt levels, and escalating geopolitical tensions. He emphasised the threat these challenges pose to peace and stability and, in some instances, the despair they generate among the population.
“The potential that our two countries have in trade and industrial development will be better harnessed when we come together to discuss, share ideas and experiences, as well as streamline and simplify our cross-border transactions and improve the business environment for the private sector. To fully unlock this potential, we must not just facilitate trade, but strive to turn the Senegambia region into an industrial manufacturing zone to drive growth and job creation for our youthful population,”underscored Vice President Jallow.
He affirmed his unwavering support for closer cooperation and collaboration between the two nations under the guidance of the President of The Gambia, His Excellency Adama Barrow. He expressed his conviction that the discussions at the event would set the foundation for addressing challenges and promoting joint trade and industrial cooperation, ultimately leading to prosperity for both countries.
The event also featured speeches from the Prime Minister of Senegal, the Gambian Ambassador to Senegal, the CEO of GiEPA, and the Director General of the APIX-S.A. They all emphasised the significance of this joint collaboration in boosting the economies of both countries.
Following the opening remarks, the forum delved into presentations on various topics, including investment opportunities in The Gambia and Senegal, simplifying trade, customs and transport challenges between the two nations, and investments in five key priority sectors: Energy and Petroleum Products, Tourism, Agriculture, ICT, and Manufacturing, among others.
