By Isatou Fofana
The Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy has taken a significant step forward in its digital transformation journey with the launch of a stakeholder engagement workshop under the Institutional Support for Digital Payments and E-Commerce Policies for Cross-Border Trade (IDECT) project.
The workshop, held at Ocean Bay Hotel, marked the beginning of a crucial gap analysis mission, designed to support the development of stronger digital trade and payment ecosystems across Africa.
The IDECT project, a partnership between Smart Africa and the African Development Bank, aims to tackle these very challenges by helping countries develop sound policies, harmonised regulations, and the institutional capacity needed to drive digital commerce.
Speaking at the opening session, Mr. Lacina Koné, Director General of Smart Africa, hailed the occasion as a major milestone not just for The Gambia, but for the continent at large.
“It is a great honour and pleasure to be here in Banjul as we officially commence the IDECT Gap Analysis mission in The Gambia - the eighth country to host this important activity under the IDECT project,” Mr. Koné stated.
He highlighted the persistent challenge of low intra-African trade, which currently accounts for just 15% of the continent’s total trade. He stressed the need to address structural barriers and build a seamless digital and economic environment across Africa.
Representing the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr. Hassan Gaye, Deputy Permanent Secretary, echoed similar sentiments. He reaffirmed The Gambia’s commitment to digital transformation, describing the IDECT workshop as “timely and transformative.”
“The evolution of digital payments and e-commerce over the past two decades has been nothing short of revolutionary. Transactions that once took days now occur in seconds, empowering people to trade and transact globally from virtually anywhere,” Mr. Gaye stated.
However, he also pointed out the challenges in areas such as cybersecurity, data protection, and consumer trust issues that need urgent attention to build a resilient digital economy.
“Under the leadership of President Adama Barrow, the Government of The Gambia has invested heavily in foundational infrastructure and policy frameworks to support e-commerce and cross-border trade,” Mr. Gaye said.
These efforts include the development of a National E-Commerce Policy and Strategy with support from the World Bank-funded WARDIP project, and ongoing reforms in collaboration with the Central Bank of The Gambia and the National Payment Gateway Committee, including a review of the National Payment Systems Act.
Other key initiatives highlighted include the nationwide rollout of digital addressing systems, restructuring of the postal sector, and alignment of cross-border trade strategies with ECOWAS regional frameworks.
Mr. Gaye extended gratitude to Smart Africa for selecting The Gambia as one of the ten pilot countries under the IDECT project.
“IDECT brings critical expertise, peer learning, and a regional perspective to help us identify gaps, assess opportunities, and unlock the full potential of digital trade”.
Mr Gaye emphasised that the stakeholder engagement was more than a technical meeting; that it was a participatory platform for reflection, alignment, and co-creation.
