The Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment has announced sweeping reforms aimed at strengthening The Gambia’s business climate, attracting investment, and creating jobs.
Trade Minister Mod K. Ceesay, speaking at a government accountability forum, said the private sector remains central to national development. “If they succeed, we succeed,” he told business leaders, describing them as key partners in driving economic growth.
Expanding Trade Partnerships
The ministry has signed new agreements with Pakistan to secure rice imports at competitive prices, while regional trade deals with Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone and Guinea are expected to open wider markets for Gambian enterprises.
Sixteen Gambian companies are now registered to export to China under a duty-free, quota-free arrangement covering 98 percent of tariff lines. Minister Ceesay also confirmed that The Gambia has completed requirements to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Supporting Entrepreneurs and Women
The C-Trade Gambia programme continues to provide training, digital skills and market access for women-owned businesses. It has also been extended to 35 female inmates at Mile 2 Prison, offering livelihood opportunities after incarceration.
Labour Migration and Employment Gains
More than 120 Gambian domestic workers have been deployed to Saudi Arabia under a bilateral labour agreement, while circular migration with Spain has enabled returnees to secure one-year visas. The First Quarter Labour Force Survey of 2026 recorded a rise in participation and a drop in unemployment from 7.6% to 6.2%.
Industrial Development and Innovation
The ministry is finalizing a Digital Single Window Business Registration System to simplify business start-ups, especially for SMEs outside Banjul. Work is also advancing on the ambitious Trans-Gambia Spatial Economic Zone, supported by the African Development Bank and World Bank, with feasibility studies showing a 23% internal rate of return.
Through the Made in The Gambia strategy, the government is promoting local manufacturing and agro-processing. Food and life-testing laboratories have been established with UNIDO, alongside initiatives to reduce post-harvest losses among farmers.
Regional Integration and Standards
The Gambia continues to benefit from ECOWAS membership, including the construction of the Lumo Border Market in Weligaraba, Burang. National standards are also improving, with the Gambia Standards Bureau developing nearly 500 standards, many focused-on food and agriculture. More than 700 MSME personnel and 300 technical experts have received training, while 20 Gambians are now internationally certified lead auditors.
Minister Ceesay concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to fostering a competitive economy that supports businesses, creates jobs, and strengthens The Gambia’s position in regional and global trade.
