By Mariatou Ngum
At the forefront of The Gambia’s economic agenda lies a steadfast government commitment to fostering an environment conducive to trade development, says the country’s Trade Minister, Hon. Baboucarr O. Joof. He was speaking on Thursday, May 2nd during the opening ceremony of the two-day ‘Invest Days’ forum, orgnaised by the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade (ICDT) in collaboration with GiEPA, held at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.
Banjul became the host of the high-level forum, following the editions of Dakar and Nouakchott. The forum was orgnaised on the sidelines of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Heads of State Summit - 4th to 5th May 2024.
The event constituted a platform for the promotion and development of investment among OIC Member States. This high-level meeting shed light on new investment opportunities in The Gambia and reinforced economic relations between this country and the 56 other member countries of the OIC.
Various economic actors including the public and private investment actors, investment promotion agencies, employers’ federations, professional associations, bankers, and insurers participated in the forum.
The objective of the forum is to promote The Gambia as an investment destination and to present the main investment opportunities to the investors of the OIC member countries; and to encourage the development of economic and commercial partnerships between OIC member countries.
Recognising the pivotal role that private sector engagement plays in driving economic growth and job creation, Minister Joof noted that the government has implemented a comprehensive policy and strategy framework aimed at facilitating investment, stimulating export growth, and nurturing a dynamic and resilient business ecosystem.
“My Ministry has a well-directed national investment, employment, and other relevant policies that will guide and protect your investments in The Gambia,” he noted.
‘‘Central to our investment promotion efforts,’’ he disclosed, ‘‘is the unwavering commitment to provide investors with a conducive and investor-friendly environment’’.
The Trade minister told participants that through targeted policy interventions and regulatory reforms, they have streamlined bureaucratic processes, reduced red tape, and enhanced transparency to instill confidence and attract investment across diverse sectors in an emerging democratic society anchored on a capitalist economic model.
The ICDT is a subsidiary organ of OIC entrusted with developing trade and investment among the Member States.
