Alport Banjul on Thursday convened a high-level meeting of transit stakeholders aimed at strengthening regional trade links and improving the flow of goods across West Africa.
The summit, held at a hotel in Kotu, brought together officials from Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and The Gambia to discuss common challenges and identify opportunities for greater efficiency in cross-border trade.
Speaking at the event, Kebba Tamsir Njie, Chairman of the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) Board, stressed the importance of collaborative action in addressing persistent bottlenecks. GPA Managing Director, Ousman Jorbateh, echoed this sentiment, noting recent progress at the port.
“We have been facing a lot of challenges, but we have made recent improvements and found opportunities to increase the efficiency of our services,” Jorbateh said.
The discussions also delved into policy and trade facilitation measures. Rafael Mendy, Sea Port Manager at the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), outlined the country’s transit policy, which aligns with global standards such as the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement.
Mendy emphasized that the policy prohibits duties on goods in transit—a move designed to ensure smooth and cost-effective trade across the sub-region.
Alport Banjul’s Managing Director, Salih Levent Kaçar, highlighted the company’s long-term vision of positioning Banjul as a key logistics hub for West Africa.
“We see the Port of Banjul as a gateway for transit, and our goal is to transform it into a major regional hub,” Kaçar said, adding that the strategy relies on deepening cooperation among neighbouring countries.
The summit ended with a robust question-and-answer session, giving participants an opportunity to share concerns and propose practical solutions to enhance transit trade.
Thursday’s gathering marked a significant step toward a more integrated and efficient trade network for the region, signalling renewed commitment among partner nations to foster economic growth through collaboration.
