01/08/2026
Government Highlights Trade, Industrialisation and Employment as Key Drivers of Economic Transformation at Mansa K***a
The Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment (MOTIE) has highlighted significant progress across trade, employment, industrial development, investment promotion, regional integration, standards and consumer protection during the Mansa K***a Bantaba.
In his opening remarks, the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Dr. Ismaila Ceesay underscored the important role of the Ministry of Trade in advancing the Government’s national development agenda.
He said the Government’s vision is to transform The Gambia into a middle-income country through strategic investments in human capital development and critical infrastructure. According to him, the Government is simultaneously investing in key sectors, including health, energy, water, roads, sports and social infrastructure, while strengthening education and skills development to prepare Gambians for employment opportunities.
Delivering the Ministry’s report, the Honourable Minister of Trade Mod K. Ceesay said the engagement forms part of Government’s commitment to transparency, accountability and keeping Gambians informed about the progress being made in implementing key national development priorities. The Minister noted that since the Ministry’s last engagement at the Bantaba, several strategic reforms and initiatives have been accelerated to promote a more competitive, industrialised and investment-driven economy.
“Our focus across every Directorate and Agency under this Ministry has remained the same: to build a better business environment, strengthen our industries, promote what we produce at home, attract quality investment, create decent jobs and ensure that Gambian businesses benefit fully from global trade,” the Minister state.
The Minister of Trade,Industry,Regional Integration and Employment, Honourable Mod K. Ceesay noted that industrialisation and agricultural development are central to the Government’s economic transformation agenda, particularly given the country’s youthful population.
“With more than 70 per cent of the population being young people, there is a need to ensure that they are educated, skilled and adequately prepared for the job market,” he said.
The Minister further highlighted the important role of the private sector in wealth creation and employment generation. He said the Government continues to promote private-sector investment, particularly in labour-intensive sectors, through the Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency GIEPA.
The country, he noted, is witnessing increased domestic and foreign investment, contributing to economic growth and the creation of employment opportunities. The industrial sector was also identified as a key driver of job creation, with the Government committed to providing the necessary infrastructure and enabling environment to encourage private-sector investment.
The Government is also working closely with micro, small and medium-sized enterprises MSMEs, which are considered the backbone of the economy.Through business support organisations and programmes implemented by GIEPA and other institutions, MSMEs are being supported to expand their operations, improve productivity and create more employment opportunities.
On migration, the Minister acknowledged that the movement of people and labour is a global phenomenon but stressed the importance of safe, regular and legal migration. He encouraged young people to acquire relevant education and skills to improve their employment prospects both within The Gambia and abroad. He said the Government continues to create legal pathways for Gambians seeking employment overseas through initiatives such as the Spain Circular Migration Programme and bilateral labour cooperation with countries including Saudi Arabia. The Minister added that government interventions aimed at creating employment opportunities are producing positive results, noting that the country had surpassed its employment target ahead of schedule. He said the Government had exceeded its target of creating 130,000 jobs, achieving the target one year ahead of schedule.
On the rising cost of living, the Minister acknowledged that increasing prices remain a global concern but noted that prices of some essential commodities in The Gambia have declined in recent months despite international economic pressures, rising overseas prices and logistical challenges.He attributed the reduction in prices partly to government interventions aimed at easing the cost of essential commodities and supporting businesses and consumers.
The Minister also highlighted efforts to strengthen local agricultural production and reduce the country’s dependence on imported food commodities.He noted that The Gambia imports significant quantities of onions, potatoes and other agricultural products despite having the potential to produce more of these commodities locally. To support local farmers, the Government has introduced measures to limit the importation of selected agricultural products during local production seasons. The measures are intended to improve market access for local producers and enable farmers to receive fair and competitive prices for their produce.
The Government is also facilitating discussions between farmers’ marketing federations and importers to promote fair pricing and strengthen market linkages.
The Minister said farmers’ associations are receiving capacity-building support to strengthen their ability to purchase produce from local farmers and supply buyers and importers.
He acknowledged that challenges remain, particularly where buyers negotiate directly with farmers. However, he said the Ministry of Trade is working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture to strengthen farmers’ marketing structures and improve their capacity to negotiate better prices.
