Public and private economic operators from the Gambia and Senegal have been given the opportunity to investigate business opportunities in both countries and to take advantage of the two governments’ willingness to streamline the registration and matching processes for businesses in the two nations.
Hundreds of business leaders and investors from the two countries gathered yesterday at the Radisson Blue Hotel in Dakar for a forum organized by the two nations’ investment agencies, Giepa and Apix. The forum took advantage of The Gambia’s High Commission in Dakar’s Gambia Day celebration to promote Senegambia relations and showcase Gambian culture.
The prime minister of Senegal, Amadou Ba, and the vice president of The Gambia, Muhamad Jallow, took turns reiterating their respective leaders’ commitment to eliminate any residual barriers in relations between the two nations in all spheres, including trade and investment.
“Just after the recent Presidential Council meeting last August in Banjul, President Sall instructed his government officials that, when interacting with The Gambia, they need not demand any bureaucratic protocols, but rather only telephone conversations. This has already been demonstrated, and this meeting must continue in the same spirit,” Vice President Jallow said to thunderous acclaim.
The Gambian High Commissioner in Dakar, Hadrammeh Sidibeh, conveyed his office’s pride in being able to organize this inaugural and successful event and commended his staff as well as all government and private agencies in both countries for making it possible. The two countries’ investment agencies, Giepa and Apix, reassured the investors that the forum was created to facilitate greater business and commercial integration in accordance with the Ecowas concept.
After the inaugural ceremony, the two parties gave a prolonged presentation on investment opportunities in each country and the simplification of commerce, customs, and transportation.
The forum witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Gambia Public Transport Service Corporation and the Dakar Dem Dikk, while Giepa and Apix also formalized their loose cooperation.
The forum discussed, among other topics, tourism, the arts, agriculture, petroleum, and fishing.
The Gambia Day culminates this evening with a spectacular and cultural night at the Radisson Blu Hotel featuring Gambian and Senegalese artists.