Trade Minister Rules Out Ban on Bottled Water Imports, Pledges Support for Local Producers

By Fatou Sillah

The Gambia’s Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, Mod K. Ceesay, has ruled out banning imported bottled water to protect domestic manufacturers, arguing that such restrictions would undermine the country’s participation in regional trade.

Speaking during a question-and-answer session at the National Assembly, Mr. Ceesay said the government had no restrictions on bottled water imports and instead favored measures to strengthen the competitiveness of local producers.

He was responding to a question from the National Assembly member for Upper Saloum, who sought clarification on whether the government intended to restrict imports to support Gambian bottled water manufacturers.

Mr. Ceesay cautioned that imposing a ban could complicate trade relations with neighboring countries, including Senegal and Guinea, which also export products to The Gambia.

“We cannot close our national market and expect others to open for our own goods,” he said.

Rather than impose import restrictions, the minister said the government was exploring incentives and other support measures to help domestic manufacturers expand production and compete in regional markets.

“The smart way is to continue to support our local preferences and provide the incentives that they would require,” he said.

Mr. Ceesay emphasized that the government’s priority was to strengthen domestic manufacturing and expand market opportunities for Gambian businesses rather than shield them from foreign competition through import bans.