By: Haddy Touray
Mr. Yankuba Darboe, Commissioner General of the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), has called for the Gambia and Senegal administrations to intensify their efforts in combating illicit trade and smuggling.
He made the call at the 10th bilateral meeting between the GRAand Senegalese Customs Administration in Dakar, Senegal on Wednesday.
The forum brought together senior government officials fromThe Gambia and Senegal. The officials were drawn from theGPA, Gambia Transport Union, GCCI, Gambia High Commission in Dakar, and Senegalo-Gambia Secretariat.
CG Darboe stressed the need for maintaining vigilance along porous borders through regular patrols and adhering to approved trade routes.
He urged officials to actively participate in bilateral discussions, sharing their experiences and challenges to generate actionable recommendations, while he assured his full support for the implementation of any recommendations arising from the meeting.
CG Darboe stated that the implementation of SIGMAT could enhance cross-border trade management, strengthen Senegambia’s cooperation in trade, and facilitate the free movement of goods and people while bolstering national security.
For his part, Dr. Mbaye Njie, the Director General of Senegalese Customs, highlighted the long-standing friendship between the two nations.
He reiterated his commitment to upholding the bilateral agreements between the two countries.
