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Her Excellency Martha Kanagbo, High Commissioner of the Republic of Sierra Leone to The Gambia, has held a strategic bilateral meeting with Honourable Bubacarr Joof, Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment of the Republic of The Gambia, to advance trade relations between the two countries.
The meeting took place in Banjul and was attended by the High Commission’s Head of Chancery and Trade Attaché.
Discussions focused on revitalizing the Trade Cooperation Agreement signed by both countries in 2021 and deepening economic collaboration in key sectors. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to fully operationalize the agreement and explore trade and investment opportunities for mutual benefit.
Minister Joof emphasized The Gambia’s intention to revive marine transport systems as a strategic economic linkage between the two countries and the wider sub-region. He noted that Sierra Leone’s exports, particularly palm oil, timber, and vegetable oil, are in high demand in The Gambia and could be efficiently delivered via coastal shipping routes.
Beyond trade logistics, the meeting addressed broader regional concerns, including policy harmonization, non-tariff barriers, challenges related to porous borders and road infrastructure, and the urgent need for deeper regional integration to facilitate cross-border commerce.
A major outcome of the meeting was the joint decision to activate the Joint Trade Committee (JTC), as outlined in Article 9 of the Trade Cooperation Agreement. The JTC will serve as a formal mechanism to monitor implementation, resolve trade disputes, and expand cooperation into new sectors.
This engagement signals a growing partnership between Sierra Leone and The Gambia, rooted in a shared commitment to regional prosperity and economic cooperation under ECOWAS frameworks.
