By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
In a recent business forum held in Dakar, Senegal, Hon. Farimang Saho, President of the Confederation of Gambian Industries (CGI), urged the governments of The Gambia and Senegal to address and eliminate trade barriers that hinder the free movement of goods and services between the two countries.
Saho emphasized that removing these barriers would benefit the people and economies of both nations.
The forum, organized by the Union of Senegalese Industries and Commerce (UPIC), brought together numerous entrepreneurs, CEOs, and company managers from Senegal and Gambia. The event aimed to strengthen bilateral business and trade relations, address existing trade barriers, and develop proposals for government action.
This gathering follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the CGI and UPIC in 2024 during the Gambia-Senegal Business Forum. High-ranking officials, including the Vice President of The Gambia, Momodou Jallow, and the Prime Minister of Senegal, Ousmane Sonko, attended the initial event.
Saho described the forum as historic, noting the unprecedented collaboration between the private sectors of both countries. He highlighted the significance of having key Senegalese industries participate under the oversight of their trade ministry, which underscores the importance of addressing trade barriers collaboratively.
Speaking at a recent business forum in Dakar, Saho noted that the discussions were focused on finding solutions and avenues for enhancing bilateral cooperation.
“We are now discussing avenues, solutions, and how to collaborate and strengthen our bilateral cooperation, trade exchange, and grow the numbers that the two countries can benefit from,” Saho stated.
He pointed out that Senegal currently leads the trade exchange and expressed the goal of The Gambia to triple its trade volume with Senegal by facilitating greater exchange of goods.
The CGI President highlighted the forum’s importance in creating an environment where industrial leaders can assess trade barriers, propose solutions, and provide guidance to both governments.
He stressed that open dialogue and mutual engagement are essential for addressing these challenges in the interest of both nations and their populations.
Saho further acknowledged the changing global landscape, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the need for both countries to adapt. “These two countries have to tackle these trade barriers to ensure that industries create a common market, enabling us to face the new challenges ahead,” he remarked.
He also underscored the private sector’s vital role in driving economic growth, calling for a unified voice among operators to effectively advise government authorities. “The private sector is the real players on the ground whose advice must be adhered to by the government in its quest to create an enabling environment,” Saho concluded.
Fatou Kenneh Jobe, Deputy Head of Mission at the Gambian Embassy in Dakar, expressed her satisfaction with the recent trade forum. She highlighted that it has been less than four months since the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Confederation of Gambian Industries (CGI) and the Union of Professional and Industrial Chambers (UPIC).
She noted that organizing such an event in a short timeframe is a significant achievement.
Jobe emphasized that the embassy’s key mission is to facilitate trade between the Gambia and Senegal, mentioning their role as co-organizers of the Gambia-Senegal Trade Investment Forum held in Banjul last December.
“We were also the partners that brought the two together to sign the MoU and seeing them implement the MoU is indeed a great honor for us,” she stated.
She reiterated the embassy’s commitment to fostering opportunities for dialogue and strategic planning aimed at removing trade barriers between the two countries.
Amadou Seck, Director General of Eurogerm, also acknowledged the commitment demonstrated by both CGI and UPIC since the signing of the MoU.
He noted that their collaboration has quickly translated into action, as evidenced by the successful organization of the business forum in Dakar within just two months of the agreement. This swift progress underscores the dedication of both associations to adhere to the terms and conditions established in the MoU.
He highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by-productsby-products such as cement, soft drinks, and dairy products in accessing the Gambian market. He mentioned that participants in the recent forum will discuss these issues and develop proposals to address them, which will be submitted to the relevant authorities.
Seck expressed the intention of UPIC and CGI to collaborate closely to establish a common market for both Gambia and Senegal. This initiative aims to allow traders to exchange goods in both markets freely.
He noted that fostering joint business ventures between Gambian and Senegalese industries could significantly enhance the economic landscape of both countries.
Additionally, he proposed including Guinea Bissau in the cooperative efforts to harness the potential of a tripartite market.
He suggested that incorporating Guinea Bissau would expand market opportunities for citizens of all three countries, emphasizing their shared biological, cultural, and economic ties.
