By Bakary Touray Jr.
The Senegambia Economic Forum commenced yesterday at a local hotel in Kololi. The two days forum is aligned with the African Union and ECOWAS Protocol on promotion of cross-border trade and free movement, to promote economic growth and posterity.
Mr. Edrissa Mass Jobe, President, Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), recalled the organization of the forum was discussed and agreed initially, with the ECOWAS Secretariat and the UNDP.
He added that private sectors of the two nations have decided to start a new partnership of integrating businesses and their peoples with an objective of socio-economic development. But the GCCI chief said they have, among others, recognized that they couldn’t it without their respective governments.
He added: “We still believe that a large free trade area in Africa will amplify the potential for economic transformation in the region. It will boost, intraregional trade, attract foreign direct investment and facilitate the development of regional supply chains.”
The forum, as Jobe pointed out, is to bring together the major stakeholders from Public and Private Sectors, to provide input to the presidential council, to harmonize Policy and Strategy on Agriculture Value Chains, develop Mechanisms to Respect the protocols for the free movement of goods and persons by removing all security, police, immigration posts, except at the border, and improve energy co-operation by optimizing interconnection of the two electrical Grid.
Madam Aissata De, the UNDP Resident Representative in The Gambia, said Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement has the potentials to provide real freedoms and opportunities for the people on the continent. It also strengthens Africa’s voices in negotiating with trading blocs outside the continent for enhanced access to global market, she noted.
De assured them of UNDP’s support in enhancing the crusade and using its vast network and expertise in Africa and around the world, to support nations in building the capacities on trade facilitation and value chain system.
A Representative of Senegalo-Gambia Permanent Secretariat also expressed delight with the bilateral interface and assured that the Secretariat would work with the stakeholders in the Gambia and Senegal in their integration processes.
Other speakers included Ndeye Maguawte Dioup, representative of the Economic Planning Minister of Senegal, and Babacarr Ngom of Senegalese Investment Club, who were all appreciative of the forum on cross-border trade and free movement of goods and peoples. They are optimistic that it would go a long way in cementing the cordial ties existing between Banjul and Dakar.
