The High Commission of the Republic of The Gambia in Dakar, Senegal organized the First Edition of THE GAMBIA DAY in Senegal in October 2023. This maiden event aims to promote The Gambia in Senegal in showcasing the Gambian culture, trade and investment in Senegal. The Gambia Day further promotes people to people exchange between the two countries in strengthening the long-standing bilateral ties between The Gambia and Senegal.
The event was a two-day celebration which included an Economic, Trade and Investment Forum and Exhibition Fair between The Gambia and Senegal on Thursday, 26th October 2023 and a Cultural Gala Dinner on Friday, 27th October 2023 at Radisson Blu Hotel in Dakar. Government officials, Entrepreneurs, distinguished personalities from both countries and the Diplomatic Corps have been invited to grace the occasion.
The First Gambia – Senegal Economic, Trade and Investment Forum and Exhibition Fair:
This maiden event aimed to promote The Gambia in Senegal in showcasing the Gambian culture, trade and investment in Senegal. The Gambia Day further promotes people to people relations between the two countries in strengthening the long-standing bilateral ties between The Gambia and Senegal, as well as promote cross border trade and investment opportunities between the two countries.
The proposed Trade and Investment forum is the initiative of The Gambia High Commission in Dakar, Senegal. Owing to the critical nature of implementation for such an initiative whilst ensuring its continuity, institutions like The Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GiEPA) and Agence Nationale Pour la Promotion des Investissements et des grands Travaux(APIX) were invited to co-organize the event.
This initiative is anchored on ensuing trade, transport and logistics problems faced by traders and transporters from both sides despite Ecowas protocols on free movements of people, goods, and services. The challenges cause serious economic and social challenges to the government and people of the two countries.
The event was a two-day celebration which included an Economic, Trade and Investment Forum and Exhibition fair between The Gambia and Senegal on Thursday, 26th October 2023 and a Gala Dinner on Friday, 27th October 2023 at Radission Blu Hotel in Dakar which included pure entertainment from Gambian musical artists such as Jaliba Kuyateh and the Kumareh Band.
The theme of the Forum which is “Strengthening Sene-Gambian Brotherhood: From Formality to Simplicity”. The forum targeted Government, Private sector, business community, Arts and cultural groups from The Gambia and Senegal. However, the forum focused on the following Priority Areas:
- Trade and Investment
- Tourism, Arts, and Culture
- Transport and Customs
- Agriculture (Poultry, Horticulture, and Aquaculture)
- Petroleum and Energy
- Manufacturing
- Information and Digital Economy
- Fisheries
- Handicraft and Tailoring
The Gambia – Senegal Economic, Trade and Investment Forum is aimed at strengthening the economic and trade cooperation between The Gambia and Senegal and provided an opportunity to present both countries as an ideal trade and investment destination to the Senegalese and Gambian companies.
The 1st Gambia – Senegal Economic, Trade and Investment Forum and Exhibition Fair was attended by His Excellency Muhammad B.S. Jallow, Vice President of The Gambia and His Excellency Amadou Ba, Prime Minister of Senegal. Honourable Ministers, Government officials, Entrepreneurs from both countries and the Diplomatic Corps in Dakar graced the occasion. The following Hon. Ministers, among other Heads of Institutions and Enterpreneurs attended the event:
- Honourable Dr. Mamadou Tangara, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abraod
- Hon. Hamat N.K. Bah, Minister of Tourism and Culture of The Gambia
- Hon. Baboucarr O. Joof, Minister of Trade, Regional Integration and Employment of The Gambia
- Hon. Demba Sabally, Minister of Agriculture of The Gambia
- Hon. Mr Abdou Karim FOFANA, Minister of Commerce, Consumer Affairs and Small and Medium Enterprises, Government Spokesperson
The Dakar conclave is attended by over 200 Gambians and Senegalese in government, private sector, businesses, and civil society organizations. The event provided the opportunity for 27 Gambian businesses to exhibit their products and network with their Senegalese counterparts by participating in; networking sessions, trade and investment meetings through; Business2Business, Business2Government, Government2Business, and Government2Government engagements.
The Vice President of The Gambia, H.E. Mr. Muhammed B.S. Jallow, and the Prime Minister of Senegal, H.E. Mr. Amadou Ba, graced the opening ceremony and both urged the participants to take advantage of this unique forum and explore investment opportunities in the two countries in different sectors. Vice President Jallow and Prime Minister Ba took turns to register their respective leaders’ commitment to break any remaining barriers in relations between the two peoples in all areas, especially trade and investment.
The Gambian High Commissioner to Dakar, Hadrammeh Sidibeh, expressed his office’s pride to be able to put together this maiden and successful event and thanked his staff and all government and private agencies in both countries who made it possible. The two countries’ investment agencies, GIEPA and APIX, assured the investors that the forum has been put together to smoothen the way for greater integration of businesses and trade in line with the ECOWAS concept.
In a show of instant success, the forum witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the GTSC and Dakar Dem Dik for the improvement of cross border transport between Banjul and Dakar such as providing additional buses from Banjul to Dakar, to improve travel experience of its customers.
The forum also witnessed the signing of an MoU between the Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA) and the Agency for the Promotion of Investments and Major Works of Senegal (APIX) towards strengthening economic and trade cooperation between The Gambia and Senegal. The document signed by GiEPA CEO – Ousainou Senghore and APIX DG- Abdoulaye Balde entails mutual cooperation as lead agencies further assigned to facilitating the execution of government policy and private sector participation in the economic development of the respective countries.
The new protocol seeks to facilitate, strengthen, and promote cooperation between the two countries, provide necessary support to business investments in the short, medium, and long term as well as enable joint industrial processes, training, financing, licensing, and access to finance. The agreement further entails offering the much-needed support to the Senegalo-Gambian Permanent Secretariat and respective government ministries between the two countries in Agriculture, Tourism Energy, Manufacturing, Trade, Logistics, Transport, Customs, Information and Digital Economy, Culture, Fisheries etc.
The signing Ceremony was presided over by the Vice President of The Republic of The Gambia – His Excellency Muhammad B.S Jallow and The Prime Minister of Senegal – His Excellency Amadou Ba. The much-awaited formality of the Economic, Trade, and Investment forum climaxed with the exchange of gifts by the respective heads of Investment Promotion Agencies and the briefing of their Vice presidents for government support to implement the MoU.
Follwing the opening ceremony, major agenda of the Economic Forum included presentations by the Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA) and the Agency for the Promotion of Investments and Major Works of Senegal (APIX) on the investment environment and trade opportunities in both The Gambia and Senegal. The forum also provided a panel on customs and transportation between The Gambia and Sengal, providing an opportunity for the first time for the Gambian and Senegalese citizens to have a face-to face dialogue with customs officers of both countries to discuss on the challenges on transportation and trade between the two countries.
The two-day event also witnessed a cultural and award gala dinner night to deserving partners who supported the event between the two countries at the Radisson Blu Hotel climaxing what appears to be a rebirth of cordial relationship between the two brotherly countries. The gala and cultural night featured Gambian and Senegalese artists.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
