By: Nyima Sillah
The Gambia Revenue Authority has launched a new project called Gambia Time Release Study. The new project is meant to release economic benefits for developing countries.
TRS also aimed to establish a baseline measurement of the container clearance to facilitate trade and create conditions for more efficient risk management system, and develop the capacities of GRA and its stakeholders to conduct future TRS.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Yankuba Darboe, Commissioner General of GRA explained that the “TRS is to help create a conducive environment for easy movement of goods and services across the border.”
He appealed to stakeholders to help implement the commendation outline in the TRS report. He observed “that together we can make the seaport of Banjul the best port for both import and export in the region.”
According to him, the study was able to measure the average time it takes when a shipping line arrive in The Gambia up to the time the goods exit in the port, also measure the average time taken by the stakeholders in rage in the clearance chain to perform assign role in the clearing process.
Buwa Saidy from Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs stated that “the conduct of the study is in line with the Gambia government’s national development plan as it seeks to identify and address the brittleness hindering the growth of international trade.”
He noted that the government has implemented various reforms in the area of public finance management, revenue mobilization in the past years. And facilitating trade is part of the Gambia government strategy to improve international trade.
He dilated further on the report and assured his Ministry’s commitment in working with stakeholders to implement the recommendations height in the study, as they will also support the challenges identifed in the report.
Faba Jammeh, an official from the Ministry of Trade described the launching of the new project as an important milestone “not only for Gambian Revenue Authority but equally for the Ministries.”