By Makutu Manneh
The Gambia is attracting interest from foreign investors, including Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote, in a proposed project to expand the country’s groundnut processing industry by refining locally produced crude groundnut oil into finished edible oil, Trade Minister Mod K. Ceesay said Wednesday.
Speaking on GRTS Radio, Ceesay said the interest reflects growing confidence in The Gambia’s investment climate and its ambition to move beyond the export of semi-processed agricultural products by adding value domestically.
According to the minister, a processing facility in Saro is already producing crude groundnut oil, creating an opportunity for investors to establish downstream industries that would refine the product into finished cooking oil.
“Recently, there have been foreign industrialists who have an interest in creating the next step. Create a complementary plan that can make the crude into oil, Dangote included,” Ceesay said.
The minister did not provide further details about the proposed investment, including whether discussions with Dangote or other investors have progressed beyond expressions of interest. He also did not specify the scale of the proposed project, its timeline, or the range of products that would be manufactured.
If realized, the investment would represent another step in the government’s efforts to increase domestic value addition in agriculture, a sector long dominated by the export of raw commodities.
Ceesay argued that The Gambia offers competitive advantages that make it an attractive destination for regional and international investors. He cited the country’s English-speaking business environment, relatively straightforward regulatory framework, and strategic location within West Africa as key selling points.
“Many People want to locate in the Gambia because the rules of engagement to conduct business in the Gambia are much simpler than if you want to locate elsewhere,” he said. “The environment is also good because many countries surrounding us are in difficulties.”
The minister described The Gambia as a potential business hub for companies seeking access to the wider West African market. He said businesses established in the country can leverage its location to serve a regional consumer base stretching across neighboring countries and as far as Nigeria.
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