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Gambia proposes landmark business compact to boost U.S. trade and investment

Jun 4, 2025, 11:48 AM | Article By: Jankey Ceesay 

In a bold move to deepen economic ties with the United States, The Gambia has proposed the establishment of a Gambia-U.S. Business Compact, aimed at attracting American investment, enhancing bilateral trade, and accelerating private sector-driven development.

The proposed Compact is positioned to align with the U.S. government’s renewed Africa strategy, which emphasises trade over aid, and seeks to catalyse economic transformation through strategic market reforms, infrastructure development, and targeted investment promotion.

According to the proposal submitted by Ambassador Abdoulie M. Touray, President of the Global Entrepreneurship Network (Gambia), the Compact will serve as a structured partnership framework to unlock The Gambia’s economic potential while advancing shared prosperity and sustainable development goals for both nations.

He explained that “the Compact will be jointly coordinated by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs,  Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, the Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA), American Chamber of Commerce ( Gambia) Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( GCCI) and relevant U.S. agencies such as the Department of State, Department of Commerce, Prosper Africa, and DFC, supported by an implementation taskforce.

He added that its expected outcome will be a significant increase in U.S. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in The Gambia; enhanced bilateral trade flows and diversification; execution of key infrastructure projects with U.S. private sector participation; improved business environment and Ease of Doing Business rankings and strengthened U.S.-Gambia economic and diplomatic relations.

“The Gambia is fully committed to implementing the necessary reforms and creating an enabling environment to attract U.S. investment and drive economic growth. This Compact provides a strategic, actionable framework to unlock shared prosperity, build resilient industries, and advance the development objectives of both nations.”