At a forum held on Wednesday 20 December 2023 at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo, the Trade ministry and other stakeholders discussed the theme: ‘Empowering Tomorrow’s Trade and Unveiling the Pulse of Private Sector Readiness for AFCFTA Implementation.’
The strategic endeavour aims to meticulously assess the readiness of the private sector for effective implementation of the AfCFTA, reflecting a commitment to shaping a robust economic landscape across the West African region.
The African Continental Free Trade Agreement is one of the flagship projects of the AU branded ‘The Africa We Want’, which is the African Union's long-term development strategy for transforming the continent into a global powerhouse.
It is a landmark initiative aimed at creating a single market for goods and services across the African continent.
Speaking at the forum, the Minister for Trade, Industry, Integration and Employment, Hon. Baboucarr H.M Joof, indicated that the AfCFTA Agreement is one of the single most ambitious undertakings made by the African Union Commission in advancing the cause of the African Regional Integration Project.
Joof added that Agenda 2063 on the Africa We Want is the African Union’s long-term development strategy for transforming the continent into a global powerhouse, which aims at boosting intra-African trade to promote economic growth, structural transformation, and industrialisation of the African economies.
The Trade Minister noted that the one-day forum provided the much-needed platform for the country to discuss their readiness to effectively participate in the AfCFTA so that The Gambia benefits from the huge opportunity offered by the trade area agreement.
“The private sector is a very important pillar of our economy, and this dialogue will allow us the opportunity to discuss the business environment, and our economic competitiveness, and share information about the various AfCFTA instruments with a view to assessing how ready are we to start trading on the AfCFTA.” he stated.
He emphasised the need to strengthen collaboration among governments, development partners, and civil societies to support effective participation of the private sector in AfCFTA in order to maximise its gains.
“I am a firm believer of togetherness, because together we can foster economic growth, create employment opportunities, and improve the livelihoods of our citizens,” the minister said.
