During the 2025 North-West International Market Access Forum held at Sun City Resort from March 26-27, Her Excellency Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay (FJC), The Gambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), delivered a compelling statement positioning The Gambia as a prime destination for investment and trade. The prestigious two-day event, hosted in South Africa’s North West Province, served as a gateway to global opportunities, connecting local businesses with international markets and fostering economic growth.
The 2025 North-West International Market Access Forum brought together a diverse array of participants, including industry experts, trade commissioners, diplomats, capital firms, import-export agencies, and government representatives. This year’s event emphasized collaboration among financial institutions, small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs), venture capitalists, and supply chain entities within the province. With the theme “Expanding Horizons, Unlocking Trade Opportunities, Connecting Fintech World to the Province,” the forum provided a platform for high-level business and trade presentations, offering insights into navigating international markets, trade regulations, and potential partnerships.
High Commissioner Ceesay seized the opportunity to spotlight The Gambia during an exclusive Red Carpet networking evening, which featured keynote speakers and strategic discussions on global trade dynamics. Addressing attendees, she urged participants to explore The Republic of The Gambia as a hub for investment and business. “The Gambia is open for business,” she declared, emphasizing the country’s untapped potential and investor-friendly environment. She expressed optimism about future collaboration, adding, “Hopefully, The Gambia will participate next year and strengthen ties with this vibrant economic community.”
The forum’s activities included one-on-one business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking sessions, a business exhibition, and presentations by prominent figures in fintech, insurance, banking, and supply chain management. These engagements fostered meaningful connections and showcased investment and funding opportunities for the North West Province and beyond.
The conference concluded with significant commitments, pledges, and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) toward the Bojanala Rural Development Finance initiative. According to High Commissioner Ceesay, the event served as a “starter-pack” for this innovative body, established by traditional leaders to manage development and investment in the traditional land of Bojanala. “This forum has laid a strong foundation for rural development and economic empowerment,” she noted, praising its potential to drive sustainable growth.
The well-attended 2025 North-West International Market Access Forum underscored the power of collaboration in unlocking trade opportunities and building bridges between local and international markets. With The Gambia now firmly on the radar of global investors, High Commissioner Ceesay’s remarks have set the stage for deepened economic ties in the region.
