The joint exercise, organised by the Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA) and the National Assembly Select Committee on Trade and Regional Integration, forms part of the review of the GIEPA Amendment Bill 2025. The mission, which began on July 29 and is expected to end on August 3, started with a visit to the Bond Road Industrial Area before covering industrial sites and proposed Special Economic Zones across the Greater Banjul Area, West Coast Region and Lower River Region.
Speaking during the review session, GIEPA Chief Executive Officer Ousainou Senghore said the proposed amendments are aimed at improving the country’s business climate by creating laws that attract both high-value foreign investors and local businesses.
“The objective is to continue to review the draft bill and enhance the business environment. We want laws that can target high value investors and local investors while ensuring they receive adequate services and facilities,” he said.
Senghore explained that the bill also seeks to strengthen The Gambia’s export capacity and provide greater support to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises through improved promotion and access to finance.
He said the field visits allowed National Assembly Members to witness investments firsthand, observe production activities, assess employment opportunities and hear directly from investors about the challenges they face and their expectations for the proposed legislation.
“It is important that these industrial zones are developed with the necessary infrastructure and that we strengthen the one-stop shop so investors can obtain all the permits and licences they need from one centre instead of moving from office to office,” Senghore added.
Chairperson of the National Assembly Select Committee on Trade and Regional Integration, Hon. Kebba Jallow, said the committee’s engagement with GIEPA is a continuation of work that began in May during scrutiny of the amendment bill.
He noted that Parliament had already unanimously adopted the committee’s report on the bill, adding that the current tour was intended to give lawmakers a practical understanding of the industrial and economic zones repeatedly referenced in the legislation.
“We started the tour on the 29th of July, visiting the industrial zones in the Greater Banjul Area. We are now continuing to see the economic zones along the corridor so members can fully appreciate what is contained in the bill,” Jallow said.
Presiding over the opening, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, Mariama Fofana, described the exercise as an important final stage in the review process.
“I hope that by the time we wrap up here, we will know some of the key challenges in the sector, especially for investors who are spending millions of dalasis to create employment and produce goods in this country,” she said.
Fofana thanked GIEPA, lawmakers and the media for supporting the process, expressing hope that the amended law would strengthen investment promotion and ultimately benefit the country.
At the close of the session, 1st of August Kodou Gaye Senghore, Director of Corporate Affairs and Board Secretary of GIEPA thanked the committee for dedicating time to the review despite their demanding schedules, saying the existing law no longer reflects the country’s growing investment environment.
Hon. Jallow reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to the reforms.
“This select committee will stand by GIEPA and the Ministry of Trade to ensure this amendment bill makes a difference in investment and strengthens GIEPA as an institution,” he said.
He added that fully developed economic zones would boost private sector growth and employment, stressing that the committee would continue supporting the successful enactment and implementation of the amendment bill.
