Building capacity in the Gambia’s services sector for trading in the African Continental Free Trade Area
The International Trade Centre in collaboration with the Gambia Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment organized a five-day workshop on capacity building in the services sector for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
More than 40 participants from the public and private sector, including regulatory bodies, industry associations as well as the Women Chambers of Commerce, attended the workshop.
As part of the International Trade Centre’s ‘Supporting Trade Negotiations and Policy Reform’ Programme, the training deepened the participants’ understanding of trade in services regulations and negotiations, with respect to the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Services negotiation and implementation. The workshop also included a comprehensive elaboration of the services regulatory assessment for the Gambia in preparation of the country’s commitments, covering the transport, communication, tourism, financial, and business services sectors.
The workshop also saw the successful establishment of a Standing Committee on Services Trade between the public and private sector, which will further assist the Gambia in its efforts.
“The AfCFTA is one of the flagship projects of the Agenda 2063 of the African Union, designed to unlock the potential of trade in services in Africa. This requires capacity-building investments in trade-related infrastructure. I thank the International Trade Centre for organizing this workshop.”
Ebrima Sisawo, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade, the Gambia
“This session has been fruitful for all stakeholders. The AfCFTA is particularly beneficial for women and youth as it will open many opportunities for improving and upscaling their businesses, as well as participating in cross-border trade in goods and services. We at the Gambian Women Chambers of Commerce are particularly excited about this.”
Maimuna Sanyang, the Gambian Women Chambers of Commerce