Landmark trade forum calls for borderless prosperity
The Gambia is hosting a landmark two-day forum that dares to dream of a borderless Africa where trade, innovation, and inclusion drive prosperity.
The event, co-hosted by The Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA) and Nigeria’s Emerging Markets Hub, opened Wednesday at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center with a powerful call for unity, women’s empowerment, and continental collaboration.
The International Trade and Cooperation Forum, themed: ‘Trade Partnership Without Borders’, opened as diplomats, entrepreneurs, and policymakers from across Africa gathered to reimage how the continent does business.
Ambassador Chief Zainab Mohamed, CEO of WCCI Emerging Markets Hub, described the forum as “a declaration that Africa is ready to rise not in fragments, but in unity and direction.”
She reminded the audience that Africa’s story has always been one of trade and trust long before colonial boundaries were drawn.
“From Kano to Timbuktu, from Lagos to Banjul our ancestors traded not because of proximity, but because of partnership, that African spirit of cooperation is what we are reviving today.”
She emphasised that the future of African prosperity must be built on collaboration, not competition.
“The world is sitting on over $17 trillion in global funds waiting for meaningful destinations. Africa can attract this capital through trust, transparency, and impact-driven investment,” she said.
She urged governments to transform partnerships into policies that create factories, jobs, and opportunities for young people and women.
“When women trade, communities thrive. When youth innovate, industries are born. And when nations collaborate, prosperity becomes possible,” Mohamed declared.
Mr. Ousainou Senghor, CEO of GIEPA, said the conference represents a strategic milestone for The Gambia, aligning with the agency’s mission to create an enabling environment for business and partnerships.
“This platform is not just a gathering, it is a declaration,” Mr. Senghor said. “Africa is ready to rise. Entrepreneurs are not waiting for opportunities; they are creating them.”
He highlighted that the conference would feature policy dialogues, business matchmaking, and exhibitions showcasing women-led enterprises from agriculture to technology and green innovation.
Representing the Minister for Trade, Deputy Permanent Secretary Mr Abdoulie Jammeh, underscored The Gambia’s commitment to regional integration and the vision of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He stressed that trade is not merely an exchange of goods, but an exchange of ideas, values, and possibilities.
“This conference speaks directly to our dream of a borderless Africa; one empowered by vision, innovation, and inclusion,” Jammeh said. “It is about the farmer in Farafenni, the fashion designer in Lagos, and the tech innovator in Tunisia.”
He commended the efforts of GIEPA and its Nigerian partners for leading a Pan-African movement that promotes women-led enterprises and sustainable development.
The two-day event, collaboration between GIEPA and the WCCI Emerging Market Hub of Nigeria aims to promote real investment, cross-border trade, and inclusive growth across the continent.
Source: The Point
