Speaking at the validation of the policy document held at Ocean Bay Hotel in Bakau on Tuesday, Minister for Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, Mod K. Ceesay, assured stakeholders that the revised strategy would move beyond policy aspirations to deliver practical and measurable results over the next decade.
He described the validation exercise as more than a policy review, saying it represents a national movement to reposition local production as a key pillar of economic transformation.
“This strategy must be practical, implementable and capable of delivering measurable results,” Minister Ceesay said, adding that government remains committed to creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
Developed by the Ministry of Trade with technical support from the International Trade Centre (ITC) under the European Union-funded Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) – Tourism and Creative Industries, the revised strategy provides a roadmap for promoting value addition, improving product quality, expanding market access and increasing the visibility of the Made in The Gambia brand.
Building on the achievements of the 2022–2026 strategy, the new framework seeks to strengthen local value chains, enhance the competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), encourage innovation and foster stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors.
The minister said the strategy complements several key national development initiatives, including the Industrialisation and Economic Diversification Policy 2025–2035, the National Export Promotion Agenda, the National MSME Policy, the National Formalisation Strategy, the Local Content Reform Agenda, the National Quality Infrastructure Programme, and the Single Window Business Registration Initiative.
Representing the International Trade Centre, Yusupha Keita reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting The Gambia’s private sector development, noting that ITC has already assisted 585 entrepreneurs through business development services ranging from product improvement and packaging to digitalisation, market access, financing and international trade exposure.
He added that ITC also supported the validation of the country’s procurement policy and its first-ever Creative Industry Policy.
“As Made in The Gambia stands on the verge of validation, we look forward to deepening this collaboration to turn this aspiration into reality,” Keita said.
Speaking on behalf of the European Union, Lumana Kumashi said the revised strategy aligns with the EU’s long-standing partnership with The Gambia in promoting sustainable economic growth, employment creation and private sector development.
Meanwhile, Carlos Gomez, Director of Export Promotion and Enterprise Support at the Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA), described the initiative as central to efforts to place local production and consumption at the heart of inclusive economic development.
He said the successful implementation of the strategy would help reduce the country’s dependence on imports, strengthen enterprise competitiveness, promote value addition and position Gambian products and services to compete effectively in domestic, regional and international markets.
Stakeholders at the validation expressed optimism that the 2027–2037 strategy will accelerate industrialisation, expand export opportunities and strengthen the Made in The Gambia brand as a catalyst for long-term economic growth.
