The International Trade Centre (ITC), through the SheTrades Gambia Hub, in partnership with the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment (MoTIE), has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a sustainable partnership ecosystem aimed at strengthening support for women entrepreneurs and enhancing their participation in regional and international trade.
The renewed commitment was highlighted during the Stakeholders’ SheTrades Forum 2026, held recently at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre.
The forum, jointly organised by MoTIE and the Women Business Advisory Group, brought together 72 participants, including representatives from government institutions, development partners, financial institutions, private sector organisations and women entrepreneurs.
Held under the theme, “Building Partnerships – Unlocking Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs Shaping The Gambia’s Trade Future,” the roundtable discussion focused on strengthening collaboration among key stakeholders to support women-led enterprises and expand their opportunities within the trading ecosystem.
The engagement was designed to build a stronger community of partners around the SheTrades Gambia Hub by fostering collaboration, mobilising resources and consolidating efforts to advance women’s participation in trade at both national and international levels.
Participants also reflected on the achievements of the SheTrades Gambia Hub, which currently supports 181 women-led enterprises through capacity-building initiatives, market access support and a range of business development services.
A key feature of the event was the sharing of success stories by women entrepreneurs who have benefited from the programme. Testimonials highlighted significant gains, including business expansion, increased export activities and improved access to new markets.
Discussions during the forum identified several opportunities for enhanced collaboration while also addressing persistent barriers confronting women entrepreneurs. Chief among these challenges were limited access to finance, trade facilitation constraints, the need for more gender-responsive procurement systems and greater awareness of opportunities available under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade.
Stakeholders emphasised the importance of sustained partnerships, coordinated action and targeted support mechanisms to enable women-owned businesses to become more competitive and take full advantage of emerging regional and international trade opportunities.
The forum concluded with a renewed call for collective action among government agencies, development partners, financial institutions and the private sector to create a more inclusive trade environment that empowers women entrepreneurs and contributes to The Gambia’s economic growth and development.
