This development was disclosed yesterday at a press briefing held at the British High Commissioner's residence at Cape Point in Bakau.
The initiative, dubbed The UK-Gambia Trade Mission 2026, will have its theme centred on strengthening partnerships, creating opportunities, and supporting sustainable growth.
Speaking at the press briefing, the British High Commissioner to The Gambia, Harriet King, said the Gambia Government and the British High Commission are working with Developing Market Associates (DMA), the Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA) and the Africa Agenda Network to promote business partnerships and trade between both countries.
High Commissioner King stated that this was the first UK-Trade Mission to The Gambia in recent times.
Elaborating on what they want to get out of the trade mission, HC King said they feel that The Gambia offers untapped opportunities for UK businesses in particular sectors such as agriculture, technology, energy, and other areas.
“This mission fosters partnerships that drive sustainable economic growth,” she said, adding that UK companies will bring expertise, innovation and technology to support The Gambia's development goals.
“And we really think that investing in The Gambia will mean investing in a future of shared prosperity,” she stated.
In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of GIEPA, Ousainou Senghore, said GIEPA is a government agency mandated to promote investment in The Gambia.
He thus welcomes the initiative, saying the Gambia Government as well the UK Government represented by the High Commission and GIEPA supported by the DMA and Africa Agenda Network could work together to promote trade, partnerships, and investments beneficial to both nations.
“The objective of this forum is to facilitate B2B engagement between UK companies and Gambian companies,” Mr Senghore said. “We identify and promote opportunities in The Gambia, as well as enhance our understanding of the market dynamics and regulations, foster long-term sustainable economic partnership, provide insight into the Gambian business environment, as well as create a platform for innovative private sector partnership and discourse, and investment opportunities in The Gambia, including the export sector.”
He added: “This will be supported by the two governments as well as the High Commissioner, GIEPA, The Ministry of Trade, the Africa Agenda Network and the Developing Market Associates.”
For her part, Africa Agenda Network CEO Muna Jallow expressed delight at taking part in the first-ever UK-Gambia trade and investment mission.
“This is exactly what Africa Agenda does,”Ms Jallow said. “Our focus is to showcase investment potentials in The Gambia and in Africa, and we do that through dialogue, B2G meetings, and global events.”
She added that they were honoured to partner with the British High Commission, GIEPA, the Gambia Government as well as the Development Market Associates.
