The United Kingdom and The Gambia have taken a significant step toward deepening economic ties with the launch of the inaugural UK–Gambia Trade and Investment Mission, signalling a renewed push for bilateral trade, long-term investment, and sustainable growth.
The initiative is designed to create a structured platform for partnerships between Gambian and UK businesses, positioning The Gambia as an open and reliable destination for foreign capital amid ongoing reforms to its economic and regulatory framework.
Chief Executive Officer of the Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GiEPA), Ousainou Senghore, described the country as strategically located, reform-driven, and investor-friendly. He said The Gambia offers competitive returns across key sectors, including agriculture, tourism, trade, and energy, while maintaining a strong focus on transparency, reliability, and long-term value.
Vice President Muhammed B.S. Jallow, delivering the keynote address, stressed the strategic importance of UK–Gambia trade relations and the government’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation. He highlighted the country’s youthful demographic profile, noting that more than 60 percent of the population is under the age of 35, which he described as a key driver of innovation, adaptability, and entrepreneurial growth.
Jallow outlined reforms aimed at improving the business climate, including the modernisation of the judiciary through the establishment of a commercial division of the High Court, stronger contract enforcement, and enhanced regulatory certainty. He identified agriculture, tourism, energy, and health as priority sectors, with public-private partnerships, value addition, and targeted support for youth and women central to the national growth strategy.
UK High Commissioner to The Gambia, Harriet King, pointed to growing economic engagement between the two countries, citing trade figures showing that UK imports from The Gambia reached £137 million in the year ending the second quarter of 2025, an increase of 85.1 percent compared with the previous year. She said the figures reflect rising confidence in the Gambian economy and increasing opportunities for collaboration.
King highlighted areas where UK expertise aligns with Gambian priorities, including finance, agriculture, engineering, technology, infrastructure, renewable energy, and tourism. She emphasised the importance of sustainable growth, job creation, and skills transfer as core elements of future cooperation.
Minister for Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, Modou K. Ceesay, said the government has implemented reforms to strengthen the investment climate, improve trade facilitation, protect investors, and accelerate industrialisation through the development of economic zones. He added that GiEPA plays a central role in ensuring transparency, efficiency, and strong aftercare support, helping translate investor interest into concrete projects.
The UK–Gambia Trade and Investment Mission marks a new phase in bilateral relations, with both sides signalling a shared commitment to deeper economic integration, sustainable development, and long-term partnerships.
