The Gambia

The Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, with an extent of about 330 km east to west, and less than 50 km north to south. It is a former British colony, forming an enclave within Senegal, a former French colony. The Gambia is one of the most densely populated countries in West Africa. The highest concentration of people is around the increasingly urbanized landscape spreading outward from The Gambia’s capital, Banjul. The city is built on a small peninsula tucked between mangrove-lined estuaries and the broad mouth of the Gambia River, which rises out of the Fouta Djallon Highlands of Guinea. With its natural port, Banjul is an important trading post between West Africa and the world. The main ethnic groups are the Mandinka, the Wolof and the Fula. The Gambia’s economy is dominated by agriculture. About two-thirds of the population is engaged in raising livestock or growing crops, such as rice, maize, millet, sorghum, and cassava. Small-scale manufacturing includes processing peanuts, fish, and hides.

The country lies within the Sudanian climatic region, with a distinct short rainy season and a long dry season. The Gambia has also found a niche in tourism, taking advantage of its beautiful beaches, warm water, and nature retreats. It is well known for bird watching, with over 540 species of birds recorded (Barlow and Wacher, 1997).

Gambia Foreign Investment Incentives Guide

Notwithstanding Government's wishes in influencing location of investment, the investment and other Government policies do not have any restrictions on the range of business activities in which investors may engage. The government is maintaining its open-door non-discriminatory policy of ensuing that no foreign investor is subject to restrictions that are not applicable to domestic investors and vice versa. The policy also seeks to encourage equity participation of foreign investors as a means of enhancing the spread and transfer of technology, technical, managerial and entrepreneurial skills. 

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