The meeting discussed wide range of opportunities for The Gambia including training for GRA staff, agriculture, trade facilitation for The Gambia in cashew exports, cultural heritage and other areas, as China tries to open more programs and market for The Gambia.
Through her embassy in Banjul, China maintains fruitful cooperation with and support for GRA, as the country has offered free overseas training in China to 20 staff members of GRA to upgrade themselves.
GRA Commissioner General Yankuba Darboe said the visit “symbolizes the strong and growing partnership between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of The Gambia, particularly in the area of institutional development and economic cooperation.
According to CG Darboe, “GRA remains profoundly grateful for the generous support” extended by the Chinese Government through the provision of four units of CT Baggage Scanners currently deployed at the arrival terminal of the Banjul international Airport.
“These scanners have significantly enhanced our customs operations, strengthened border security, improved trade facilitation, and increased our capacity to detect prohibited and undeclared goods with greater efficiency and accuracy,” he said.
“This support demonstrates China’s continued commitment to supporting The Gambia’s development agenda and modernizing our customs administration in line with international best practices.”
He added that in 2025, forty-three staff members of GRA benefited from specialised training programs in several critical areas including taxation and business environment, taxation of corporations in Africa, tax administration and digitalization, China’s digital economy and tax governance solutions, and customs on-site supervision of goods for developing countries.
“Furthermore,” he said, “in 2026, eight staff members are currently undergoing training in China, while additional fourteen officials are being processed for participation in programs covering Tax Cooperation for Belt and Road Countries, Tax Cooperation among Global South Countries, Smart Customs Cooperation, Customs Inspection and Quarantine, and Customs Risk Management.”
These opportunities, he added, are building the technical competencies of GRA staff and positioning the Authority to effectively respond to the evolving demands of modern tax and customs administration.
CG Darboe further said GRA continues to benefit from China-supported programs coordinated through other line ministries. “Last year, four members of staff participated in a trade facilitation training program coordinated by the Ministry of Trade, further broadening our institutional knowledge and regional cooperation efforts.”
GRA “highly values this enduring partnership” with the People’s Republic of China, he said, adding: “We believe that cooperation built on mutual respect, shared development goals, and human capacity development remains essential for sustainable progress.”
He continued: “On behalf of the Board, Management, and staff of the Gambia Revenue Authority, I wish to express our sincere gratitude to the Government and people of China for their unwavering support and friendship.”
For his part, Counselor Zhan Tong of the Chinese Embassy in The Gambia hailed the management and leadership of GRA for the exceptional warm welcome accorded to them.
He dilated on the strong relationship between The Gambia and China, saying the opportunities China intends to offer the GRA range from training to trade facilitation.
