Business in the Gambia

Subject (Course): International Trade and Doing Business in the Gambia (Africa). Banjul

Syllabus:

1. Introduction to the Republic of the Gambia (West Africa).
2. Doing Business in Banjul.
3. Gambian Economy
4. International Trade of the Gambia
5. Business and Investment Opportunities in the Gambia
   - Air Services
   - Energy
   - Agribusiness and fisheries
   - Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
   - Light Manufacturing
   - River Transport
   - Tourism
6. Case Study: business opportunities in the Gambian agriculture sector
7. Access to the Gambian Market
8. Business Plan for the Gambia

Objectives of the subject “Foreign Trade and Doing Business in the Republic of the Gambia”:

1. To analyse the Gambian economy and foreign trade
2. To evaluate business opportunities in the Republic of the Gambia
3. To explore Gambia's trade relations with the student's country
4. To know Gambia's Free Trade Agreements (FTA)
5. To develop a business plan for the Gambian Market

Sample of the subject (Doing Business in the Gambia):

Subject Description (Doing Business in the Gambia).

The Republic of the Gambia:

The Gambia: an agricultural export-oriented country.

1. Area: 11,365 square kilometres
2. Gambian population: 1.75 million (40% of the population between 0-14, 40% of the Gambian population is litreate).
3. Borders of Gambia: Senegal
4. Capital: City of Banjul
5. The official language of Gambia: English and different Gambian languages: Mandinka, Wollof, Fula, Jola
6. The currency of Gambia: Dalasi

The main religions in Gambia:

1. Islam (90%)
2. Christianity (8%)

Gambia belongs to the West African Economic Area of the African Civilisation.

Gambian economy:

1. Market-based economy
2. The continued growth rate of 5-6 % in the past six years.
3. Services sector: 58% of Gambian GDP
4. Fasting Gambian growing sector: tourism (16% of GDP)
5. The agricultural sector: 22% of GDP. 80% of the labour force
6. The vision of the Government: “to become an export-oriented agricultural country.”
7. The inflation: 5.7%
8. Top Gambian export markets: the European Union (EU), China, and India
9. Top export products: peanuts, fish, cotton, and palm kernels.
10. Top exporter countries to the Gambia: China, Senegal, Brazil, the United Kingdom, India, and Indonesia
11. FDI stock: 675 million dollars
12. The main Gambian port: Port of Banjul
13. Export Promotion and Zone Investor Incentives. Tax Holiday
14. Mobile operators: Africell, Comium, Gamcel, and Qcel

Logistics:

1. Access to the Port of Dakar
2. Dakar-Gambia-Lagos Corridor

Customs of the Gambia:

The Gambia has preferential access:

1. West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ)
2. Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
3. Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD)
4. The European Union: Generalised System of Preferences/Cotonou Agreement.
5. African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA United States)

The Gambia is a member of:

1. New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)
2. African Union (AU) - Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption
3. Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
4. African Development Bank
5. Africa-South America Summit
6. Islamic Development Bank
7. Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
8. International Monetary Fund (IMF)
9. World Customs Organisation (WCO)
10. World Bank (WB)