TheAfCFTA framework, he said, intends to progressively eliminate tariffs on 90% of goods traded within Africa, contributing to a more integrated and accessible African market.
He made this statement at the first quarter of The African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) national implementation committee (NIC) 2025 meeting at Metzy hotel in Kololi.
He revealed that significant efforts have also been made to align customs procedures with AfCFTA requirements to facilitate the smooth movement of goods across borders. Moreover, through GRA, the Government has embarked on upgrading trade facilitation infrastructure, including ports, border posts, and logistics systems, to ensure the seamless movement of goods to enhance trade efficiency.
“In the area of trade in services, The Gambia has made commitments in key service sectors such as business services, communication services, financial services, tourism, and transport. We are also strengthening our regulatory frameworks to align with AfCFTA protocols, ensuring that our service providers are competitive and can thrive in the continental market.”
He explained that The AfCFTA represents the most ambitious trade initiative on the African continent, with the potential to create the largest single market in the world, comprising of 1.4 billion people and a combined GDP of over $3.4 trillion.
“For The Gambia, a small but open and strategically positioned economy, this agreement presents a unique opportunity to expand our market access, boost industrialization, attract investment, and enhance job creation.”
He underscored that “since The Gambia ratified the AfCFTA Agreement, we have made significant strides in creating an enabling environment for its effective implementation. The Government, through my Ministry, has developed a comprehensive National AfCFTA Implementation Strategy. The Strategy is the national strategic framework for the implementation of the AfCFTA in The Gambia and it identifies priority actions that will be undertaken by the Government over a 10-year period from 2020 to 2030 to effectively realize the potential benefits of the AfCFTA to The Gambia.
“The strategy outlines priority sectors, key interventions, and capacity-building measures that are designed to enhance The Gambia’s competitiveness, employment,and business opportunities in the continental market. Embedded in the strategy is the creation of this committee, the National Implementation Committee.”
He stated that “while we are proud of the progress we have made, we recognize the challenges that remain. In some areas, there is still limited awareness and understanding of AfCFTA provisions among businesses and the public, capacity constraints in our regulatory institutions, and the need for further investment in trade infrastructure and digital trade facilitation.
To address these challenges, he said “we will focus on strengthening stakeholder engagement and conducting public awareness campaigns, enhancing technical and institutional capacities through training and strategic partnerships, and expanding intra-African trade networks to maximize the benefits of the AfCFTA.”
