Gambia Launches AfCFTA Rules Workshop to Boost Business Access to African Markets
The Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment (MoTIE), in partnership with the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), World Customs Organization (WCO), and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has commenced a crucial three-day workshop on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Rules of Origin at Bakadaji Hotel.
The African Continental Free Trade Area is creating the largest single market for goods and services across Africa, connecting 1.3 billion people. The Gambia, which signed the AfCFTA in 2018 and ratified it in 2019, has validated a 10-year national implementation strategy and submitted tariff offers through ECOWAS for 90% of continental goods.
The ongoing workshop offers Gambian entrepreneurs an opportunity to understand how to access preferential markets across Africa by learning about compliance procedures, certification requirements, and how to maximize the benefits of free trade.
According to Deputy Permanent Secretary Mr. Mamadi Dampha, who spoke on behalf of the Minister of Trade, “Through ECOWAS, The Gambia has already submitted its tariff offers in line with AfCFTA requirements, paving the way for the progressive elimination of tariffs on 90% of goods traded across the continent.”
The initiative underscores The Gambia’s ambition to position itself as a key player in Africa’s economic integration, with a future-focused approach that includes digital trade and inclusive participation of women and youth.
Key partners in the initiative include the Gambia Revenue Authority, the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), and the National Food Security, Processing and Marketing Corporation.
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