By Fatou Dahaba
The Gambia’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment (MoTIE), along with its partners, convened the inaugural national implementation committee meeting on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) at Metzy Hotel in Kololi on Thursday, February 20, 2025. This meeting signifies an important step in the nation’s efforts to harness the full benefits of the AfCFTA.
The newly established committee will be tasked with overseeing, coordinating, and monitoring the implementation of the AfCFTA within The Gambia.
A significant function of this committee will be to ensure the alignment of national trade policies with AfCFTA commitments to facilitate smoother trade operations across the continent.
The AfCFTA is recognized as one of the most ambitious trade initiatives in Africa. It aims to establish the largest single market globally, encompassing 1.4 billion people and boasting a combined GDP exceeding $3.4 trillion. For The Gambia, a small but strategically located economy, this trade agreement offers a valuable opportunity to enhance market access, foster industrialization, attract investments, and create jobs.
Mod Secka, Permanent Secretary MoTIE, highlights the significant strides made by his ministry in developing a comprehensive national AfCFTA implementation strategy. ‘This strategy is a national strategy framework in The Gambia, and it identifies priority actions that will be undertaken by the Government over a 10-year period from 2020 to 2030 to effectively realize the potential benefits of the AfCFTA to The Gambia.’
PS Secka disclosed priority sectors, key interventions, and capacity-building measures designed to enhance the Gambia’s competitiveness, employment, and business opportunities in the continental market. The strategy also includes creating the National Implementation Committee.
On trade in goods, PS Secka explains that through ECOWAS, The Gambia has successfully submitted its tariff offers under the AfCFTA framework. It intends to progressively eliminate tariffs on 90% of goods traded within Africa, contributing to a more integrated and accessible African market.
He also said that significant efforts have been made to align customs procedures with AfCFTA requirements to facilitate the smooth movement of goods across borders.
Recognizing the critical role of the private sector, he expressed the need to actively engage business associations, SMEs, and entrepreneurs to raise awareness about the opportunities the AfCFTA brings.
PS Secka reiterated that capacity-building programs are also being rolled out to equip local businesses, women and youth entrepreneurs, NGOs, and fintech companies with the knowledge and skills required to access regional and continental markets through the AfCFTA.
”Our industrialization strategy focuses on adding value to agriculture, fisheries, and manufacturing, boosting export capacity, and contributing to the overall economic development of The Gambia. In addition, we have conducted national consultations on the AfFCTA protocols for digital trade and women and youth in trade to ensure that our policies align with the protocols.”
PS Secka recognizes the challenges that remain in some sectors, including limited awareness and understanding of AfCFTA provisions among businesses and the public, capacity constraints in regulatory institutions, and the need for further investment in trade infrastructure and digital trade facilitation.
To address these challenges, he said they will need to focus on strengthening stakeholder engagement and conducting public awareness campaigns, enhancing technical and institutional capacities through training and strategic partnerships, and expanding intra-African trade networks to maximize the benefits of the AfCFTA.
Ousainou Senghore, Chief Executive Officer for The Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA), said their role at the committee is to know how they can benefit from the multilateral agreement and how the Gambia would be able to export to other African countries without tariff.
He said their aim is to scale the country’s productive sector, look from the import and export perspective, support youth entrepreneurs and micro businesses, and enable them to take advantage of the opportunities offered within the AfCFTA.
Farimang Saho, President of the Gambia Federation of Industries, emphasized the importance of the quarterly meeting, which seeks to open doors for Gambian businesses to compete in the continental market.
He acknowledged that meeting quarterly will help them strategize and prepare to meet the expectations of their products in the international market.
The AfCFTA is more than just a trade agreement; it is a vision for an integrated and prosperous Africa. World Bank estimates show that the AfCFTA could increase Africa’s exports to the rest of the world by 32% by 2035 and catalyze foreign direct investment, which is expected to grow by between 111% and 159%.
By Fatou Dahaba
The Gambia’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment (MoTIE), along with its partners, convened the inaugural national implementation committee meeting on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) at Metzy Hotel in Kololi on Thursday, February 20, 2025. This meeting signifies an important step in the nation’s efforts to harness the full benefits of the AfCFTA.
The newly established committee will be tasked with overseeing, coordinating, and monitoring the implementation of the AfCFTA within The Gambia.
A significant function of this committee will be to ensure the alignment of national trade policies with AfCFTA commitments to facilitate smoother trade operations across the continent.
The AfCFTA is recognized as one of the most ambitious trade initiatives in Africa. It aims to establish the largest single market globally, encompassing 1.4 billion people and boasting a combined GDP exceeding $3.4 trillion. For The Gambia, a small but strategically located economy, this trade agreement offers a valuable opportunity to enhance market access, foster industrialization, attract investments, and create jobs.
Mod Secka, Permanent Secretary MoTIE, highlights the significant strides made by his ministry in developing a comprehensive national AfCFTA implementation strategy. ‘This strategy is a national strategy framework in The Gambia, and it identifies priority actions that will be undertaken by the Government over a 10-year period from 2020 to 2030 to effectively realize the potential benefits of the AfCFTA to The Gambia.’
PS Secka disclosed priority sectors, key interventions, and capacity-building measures designed to enhance the Gambia’s competitiveness, employment, and business opportunities in the continental market. The strategy also includes creating the National Implementation Committee.
On trade in goods, PS Secka explains that through ECOWAS, The Gambia has successfully submitted its tariff offers under the AfCFTA framework. It intends to progressively eliminate tariffs on 90% of goods traded within Africa, contributing to a more integrated and accessible African market.
He also said that significant efforts have been made to align customs procedures with AfCFTA requirements to facilitate the smooth movement of goods across borders.
Recognizing the critical role of the private sector, he expressed the need to actively engage business associations, SMEs, and entrepreneurs to raise awareness about the opportunities the AfCFTA brings.
PS Secka reiterated that capacity-building programs are also being rolled out to equip local businesses, women and youth entrepreneurs, NGOs, and fintech companies with the knowledge and skills required to access regional and continental markets through the AfCFTA.
”Our industrialization strategy focuses on adding value to agriculture, fisheries, and manufacturing, boosting export capacity, and contributing to the overall economic development of The Gambia. In addition, we have conducted national consultations on the AfFCTA protocols for digital trade and women and youth in trade to ensure that our policies align with the protocols.”
PS Secka recognizes the challenges that remain in some sectors, including limited awareness and understanding of AfCFTA provisions among businesses and the public, capacity constraints in regulatory institutions, and the need for further investment in trade infrastructure and digital trade facilitation.
To address these challenges, he said they will need to focus on strengthening stakeholder engagement and conducting public awareness campaigns, enhancing technical and institutional capacities through training and strategic partnerships, and expanding intra-African trade networks to maximize the benefits of the AfCFTA.
Ousainou Senghore, Chief Executive Officer for The Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA), said their role at the committee is to know how they can benefit from the multilateral agreement and how the Gambia would be able to export to other African countries without tariff.
He said their aim is to scale the country’s productive sector, look from the import and export perspective, support youth entrepreneurs and micro businesses, and enable them to take advantage of the opportunities offered within the AfCFTA.
Farimang Saho, President of the Gambia Federation of Industries, emphasized the importance of the quarterly meeting, which seeks to open doors for Gambian businesses to compete in the continental market.
He acknowledged that meeting quarterly will help them strategize and prepare to meet the expectations of their products in the international market.
The AfCFTA is more than just a trade agreement; it is a vision for an integrated and prosperous Africa. World Bank estimates show that the AfCFTA could increase Africa’s exports to the rest of the world by 32% by 2035 and catalyze foreign direct investment, which is expected to grow by between 111% and 159%.
By Fatou Dahaba
The Gambia’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment (MoTIE), along with its partners, convened the inaugural national implementation committee meeting on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) at Metzy Hotel in Kololi on Thursday, February 20, 2025. This meeting signifies an important step in the nation’s efforts to harness the full benefits of the AfCFTA.
The newly established committee will be tasked with overseeing, coordinating, and monitoring the implementation of the AfCFTA within The Gambia.
A significant function of this committee will be to ensure the alignment of national trade policies with AfCFTA commitments to facilitate smoother trade operations across the continent.
The AfCFTA is recognized as one of the most ambitious trade initiatives in Africa. It aims to establish the largest single market globally, encompassing 1.4 billion people and boasting a combined GDP exceeding $3.4 trillion. For The Gambia, a small but strategically located economy, this trade agreement offers a valuable opportunity to enhance market access, foster industrialization, attract investments, and create jobs.
Mod Secka, Permanent Secretary MoTIE, highlights the significant strides made by his ministry in developing a comprehensive national AfCFTA implementation strategy. ‘This strategy is a national strategy framework in The Gambia, and it identifies priority actions that will be undertaken by the Government over a 10-year period from 2020 to 2030 to effectively realize the potential benefits of the AfCFTA to The Gambia.’
PS Secka disclosed priority sectors, key interventions, and capacity-building measures designed to enhance the Gambia’s competitiveness, employment, and business opportunities in the continental market. The strategy also includes creating the National Implementation Committee.
On trade in goods, PS Secka explains that through ECOWAS, The Gambia has successfully submitted its tariff offers under the AfCFTA framework. It intends to progressively eliminate tariffs on 90% of goods traded within Africa, contributing to a more integrated and accessible African market.
He also said that significant efforts have been made to align customs procedures with AfCFTA requirements to facilitate the smooth movement of goods across borders.
Recognizing the critical role of the private sector, he expressed the need to actively engage business associations, SMEs, and entrepreneurs to raise awareness about the opportunities the AfCFTA brings.
PS Secka reiterated that capacity-building programs are also being rolled out to equip local businesses, women and youth entrepreneurs, NGOs, and fintech companies with the knowledge and skills required to access regional and continental markets through the AfCFTA.
”Our industrialization strategy focuses on adding value to agriculture, fisheries, and manufacturing, boosting export capacity, and contributing to the overall economic development of The Gambia. In addition, we have conducted national consultations on the AfFCTA protocols for digital trade and women and youth in trade to ensure that our policies align with the protocols.”
PS Secka recognizes the challenges that remain in some sectors, including limited awareness and understanding of AfCFTA provisions among businesses and the public, capacity constraints in regulatory institutions, and the need for further investment in trade infrastructure and digital trade facilitation.
To address these challenges, he said they will need to focus on strengthening stakeholder engagement and conducting public awareness campaigns, enhancing technical and institutional capacities through training and strategic partnerships, and expanding intra-African trade networks to maximize the benefits of the AfCFTA.
Ousainou Senghore, Chief Executive Officer for The Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA), said their role at the committee is to know how they can benefit from the multilateral agreement and how the Gambia would be able to export to other African countries without tariff.
He said their aim is to scale the country’s productive sector, look from the import and export perspective, support youth entrepreneurs and micro businesses, and enable them to take advantage of the opportunities offered within the AfCFTA.
Farimang Saho, President of the Gambia Federation of Industries, emphasized the importance of the quarterly meeting, which seeks to open doors for Gambian businesses to compete in the continental market.
He acknowledged that meeting quarterly will help them strategize and prepare to meet the expectations of their products in the international market.
The AfCFTA is more than just a trade agreement; it is a vision for an integrated and prosperous Africa. World Bank estimates show that the AfCFTA could increase Africa’s exports to the rest of the world by 32% by 2035 and catalyze foreign direct investment, which is expected to grow by between 111% and 159%.
