Ousman Bojang, Director of Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Regional Integration and Employment has said that The Gambia is committed to the implementation of the ‘African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA)’ agreement.
He made this disclosure at a meeting organised by Network of Financial and Tax Reporters (NFTR), meant to augment the capacity of journalists on the ‘African Continental Free Trade Area’ agreement ratified by member states of the African Union to break down trade barrier.
The African Continental Free Trade Area is widely expected to increase the potential employment opportunities and incomes and help to expand opportunities for all Africans.
The AfCFTA agreement is also expected to lift around 68 million people out of moderate poverty and make African countries more competitive, while promising a virtuous circle of greater market opportunities, triggering more trade and investment, and allowing greater value addition and productivity growth – leading to more and better jobs with social inclusion, and thus further enlarged markets.
“Gambia has been part of the negotiations of the ACFTA agreement since 2016, and has since been participating at different levels including the technical working committee level, senior trade official level and at the summit level.
It has also been engaging the stakeholders to guide the negotiation process of this agreement” said Ousman Bojang, Director of Trade.
According to him, The Gambia has prepared through national consultations a tariff schedule that is subjected to liberalization under the ACFTA agreement, adding that the country has also prepared its schedule of specific commitment under the services.
Director Bojang, went on disclosed that the tariff schedule and the schedule of specific commitment have been submitted to Ecowas, adding that these documents have been handed over to Ecowas in its capacity as the chief negotiator of the ACFTA on behalf of Ecowas member countries.
He disclosed that at the national level structures have been established to support the implementation of the agreement, noting that nation Committee on ACFTA as well as technical working groups have all been established and launched.
“Our focus is on broad sensitisation outreach activities for the general public, businesses, NGOs and civil societies to buying the idea and appreciates the agreement.
All the stakeholders especially the businesses must take the advantage of the broader market this agreement is to bring,” said Director Bojang.
He added: “The Gambia been a very small country, it is to our advantage to be part of such a regional initiative.” Bojang also hinted that the country is also on preparations to taking part in the forthcoming negotiations on tariff, adding that the submission done by the country are intends of liberalisation which has to be negotiated and agreed upon before enforcement can begin. He summed that once ACFTA agreement comes into force most trade problems and misunderstandings between countries in Africa will be addressed.