Press Dispatch Dated: Sunday 31st August, 2025
New Delhi, India — The Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, Hon. Baboucarr Ousmaila Joof, has reiterated The Gambia’s steadfast commitment to democratic consolidation, fair play and economic revitalization, underpinned by our Recovery-Focused National Development Plan (Yiriwa).
As valedictorian at a colourful ceremony concluding the 20th CII India-Africa Business Conclave in New Delhi on Friday, Mr. Joof paid a glowing tribute to India’s impressive development trajectory as perfectly consistent with Africa’s own developmental paradigm, serving as a blueprint for South-South Cooperation.
Significantly, the conclave promoted, “constructive and rich dialogues, spanning critical sectors like agriculture and food security, manufacturing, industrialization, digital and physical infrastructure, energy and healthcare.” Mr. Joof argues that, “These are priority areas for Africa that align perfectly with India’s own remarkable journey.”
Mr. Joof said “The Conclave has been immensely beneficial for The Gambia, enabling our Government and private sector to network, and connect with Indian counterparts. Meetings with Indian businesses, he said, were particularly productive on the innovative solutions they offer, and we have used this platform to articulate the vast investment opportunities within The Gambia.
Minister Joof told the Conclave that, “The Gambia offers a stable, vibrant democratic and investment-friendly environment and under the leadership President Adama Barrow, he said, we have embarked on several initiatives to strengthen our trade and investment landscape, including prioritizing the implementation of the AfCFTA. Our strategic location also, provides a gateway to West Africa, with The River Gambia offering a natural harbor, and direct access to a market of over 400 million people through coastal shipping, and inland river transport. This strategically positions The Gambia as an ideal regional hub for logistics and transshipment, Mr Joof assured delegates. Grounded in strong principles of democracy, respect for the rule of law, transparency and accountability, The Gambia is actively transforming this geographic potential into economic reality. Currently, we are implementing the Banjul Port Expansion and Modernization Project, a flagship Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative to expand capacity, modernize operations, and automate processes, aiming to turn the Port of Banjul into a smart logistics hub for the sub region, he outlined.
Minister Joof encouraged delegates from across Africa, and the world to make a collective effort to translate their discussions into actionable plans, embrace innovation and technology transfer, and champion the principles of a rules-based trading system to support equitable economic transformation. “Let us therefore, continue to strengthen the India-Africa partnership to build a future anchored in mutual respect and shared prosperity. The Gambia is open, ready, and eager to work hand-in-hand with the Governments and businesses of India, and Africa for a brighter, more prosperous future for all our peoples, he offered.
Throughout the sessions, Mr Joof’s delegation in collaboration with the Gambian High Commissioner to India, His Excellency, Mustapha Jawara, and staff, participated in several bilaterals on the margins of the Conclave, yielding enormous progress for potential investments in The Gambia. The prospects of a huge capacity rice storage facility along The Gambia River to ease the burden of perennial rice shortage on both businesses and consumers, as well as have adequate supplies for the re-export trade within the sub region, are almost finalized.
Indian construction company Three Star Engineering Works currently in Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana and Uganda, is poised to begin a feasibility study of The Gambia to potentially start a low income affordable housing scheme benefitting over three hundred households. The houses are thermal insulated with composite materials to withstand the rigours of all kinds of weather.
The Gambia Government, Gambian businesses and stakeholders have also, been officially invited to grace the upcoming India Rice Conference hosting some 83 countries across Africa, and the world. India, which now produces some 160 Million tons of rice annually, only consumes 110 Million tons, leaving a surplus of some 50 Million tons for export. The Rice Conference, scheduled for late October, will be hosted by Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi.
Trade Minister Joof was accompanied by his Deputy Permanent Secretary, Mr. Abdoulie Jammeh, the Governor of West Coast Region, Mr Ousman J. Bojang, the Director of GEIPA, Mr Ousainou Senghore, and the Desk Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Adama Cabality Sallah.
Higher Commissioner Jawara was accompanied by his technical team, Deputy Head of Mission Mr. Ebrima Mboob, First Secretary, Aji Fatoumatta Joof, Second Secretary, Omar Sompo Ceesay and Finance Attaché, Mr. Buba Kinteh. Gambian entrepreneur, and Unique Solutions CEO, Pa Yusupha Njie, attended on behalf of the Gambian Business community.
By E. G. Sankareh
The Gambia Government Spokesperson & Presidential Diaspora Adviser
