Few years later, it appears the status quo remains the old regime where businesses continue narrating ordeal and even free movement at a cross road.
As of 2018, Africa represented 2.4 percent of global exports and intra-African trade accounted for 15 percent of total African exports, compared to 58 per cent and 67 per cent within Asia and Europe, respectively.
From the look of things, this agreement will be an elusive dream without eliminating trade barriers and free movement of goods and services.
Certainly, we cannot promote investment and economic development without trading among ourselves. And we cannot trade within ourselves without promoting cross border trade. People should be allowed to move freely and do business across borders.
Also, the relations between The Gambia and Senegal are such that there should be no limitation when it comes to movement of goods and services. Our relationships transcend socio-economic, cultural and even intermarriage ties. The people of these two countries are ‘inseparable.’
However, for many years Gambian businessmen and even vehicle owners have complained of unfair treatment at the hands of the Senegalese Customs officers.
This problem has been ongoing for years and most of the time resulting in undesirable actions by officials.
In our Thursday’s edition, we published an article in which Gambian vehicle owners in Senegal lamented some of the unfair treatment they are subjected to.
From “illegal impounding” of Gambian vehicles in Senegal, extra charges levied on goods and services to other unfair treatment, the trend continues without no end in sight.
This has to some extent created a nightmare especially for businessmen operating between these two countries. On a daily basis a good number of Senegalese long vehicles criss-cross the length and breadth of The Gambia, which are not subjected to such harsh measures by our security.
Certainly, these unacceptable actions are a gross violation of the trust and mutual and even bilateral agreement signed between The Gambia and Senegal.
We therefore call on the two governments to work on measures of eliminating obstacles hindering growth of business.
We all know that no country stands alone. We must promote trade to propel our development strides and enhance economic growth. This cannot be achieved without also promoting cross border trade.