By Mariatou Ngum
The Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment (MoTIE), Hon Baboucarr Ousmaila Joof, and his delegation paid a working visit to Bissau.
The 5-day working visit that commenced on March 20th, 2023, is meant to strengthen trade between The Gambia and Guinea Bissau; especially in the areas of cashew, transit trade, basalt, and the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme.
Accompanied by The Gambia’s Ambassador to Bissau, Her Excellency Amie Fabureh, Minister Joof, and delegation where received on Monday by the Minister of Commerce of Guinea, Honourable Mr. Abas Djalo at his office in Bissau.
Speaking to the press shortly after a closed-door meeting with his counterpart, Minister Joof expressed great appreciation to the people of Guinea Bissau through his counterpart Hon Abas Djalo to His Excellency Sissoho Mballo, the President of the Republic of Guinea Bissau.
He said President Mballo and His Excellency President Adama Barrow have a very strong relationship and so they too are trying to establish a similar relationship at their level, particularly in facilitating bilateral trade between the two countries.
Minister Joof added that The Gambia and Guinea Bissau are currently trading and he wants to look at ways to make it more efficient and effective for the people of both countries to gain in the process, which, he believes, will ultimately translate into gains for both countries.
Apart from strengthening trade, Hon Joof affirmed that they are also here to learn from Guinea Bissau’s vast experience and knowledge in the cashew industry to support The Gambia’s cashew value chain development.
According to him, he wants to see Gambian farmers improve both their production at the grassroots level and also cashew processing to improve exports of cashew products, like Guinea Bissau. “So we are here to learn from the people of Bissau on how they got where they are on cashew production,” he emphasised.
Minister Joof had several other meetings; among them were the meeting with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture, and Services and the operators in the cashew trade, the Guinea Bissau Customs. He also visited and discussed with the officials of the Guinea Ports and the National Cashew Agency.