The Gambia regional integration and economic development

The Gambia has engaged in several initiatives aimed at strengthening regional integration and economic development.

Following an official visit by President Adama Barrow to Guinea, the two nations moved to enhance bilateral ties with a focus on energy cooperation. Discussions between President Barrow and President Mamadi Doumbouya centered on utilizing Guinea’s hydroelectric potential to resolve electricity supply issues in The Gambia. This includes support for the Organisation pour la Mise en Valeur du Fleuve Gambie (OMVG) interconnection project, which seeks to build a 1,600-kilometer electrical transport loop to improve regional energy security.

In addition to energy, The Gambia has hosted forums to promote market integration and investment. The ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) held its inaugural annual conference in Banjul to discuss competition policies that protect consumers and small businesses. Simultaneously, the Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA) conducted workshops to optimize investment incentives, such as fiscal concessions, to drive industrialization and employment.