Gambia

Background

The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965; it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia with Senegal between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty. A military coup in 1994 overthrew the president and banned political activity, but a new 1996 constitution and presidential elections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. The country undertook another round of presidential and legislative elections in late 2001 and early 2002.

The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and has a limited agricultural base. About 75% of the population depends on crops and livestock for its livelihood. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides. Reexport trade normally constitutes a major segment of economic activity, but a 1999 government-imposed pre-shipment inspection plan, and instability of the Gambian dalasi (currency) have drawn some of the reexport trade away from Banjul. The government's 1998 seizure of the private peanut firm Alimenta eliminated the largest purchaser of Gambian groundnuts; the following two marketing seasons have seen substantially lower prices and sales. A decline in tourism in 2000 has also held back growth. Unemployment and underemployment rates are extremely high. Short-run economic progress remains highly dependent on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on responsible government economic management as forwarded by IMF technical help and advice, and on expected growth in the construction sector. Record crops undergirded sturdy growth in 2001.

Holidays

Ps: Muslim festivals(*) are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. Besides, the Festivals' dates(~) are also subject to change in every year. 

Phone Codes

Country Code: 220
Outgoing International Code: 00

Resources

Market Research

CIA - The World Factbook - The Republic of The Gambia
This website indicates a wide range of detail information about Gambia by introducing under 8 different fields as its geography, people, government, economy, communications, transportation, military, transnational issues.

About Gambia
There is available to find out Gambian general outlook on the issues of its social and business profile, passport/visa, money, accommodation, government, duty free, health and so forth.

Business in Gambia
There are listed the industries of Gambia by aiming to assist entrepreneurs & investors in terms of creating investment opportunities in Gambia.

Gambia - Business
Kasbah.com creates efficient business directory for Gambia in order to orient the potential investors seeking business opportunities in Gambia.

Gambian Business Profile
Mbendi serves as a directory providing an ultimate African Business Source for the entrepreneurs including the list of industries for Gambia.

U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Consular Affairs - For Gambia
U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs creates a wide range of research named as Consular Information Sheet about Gambia in terms of analyzing its social, political, cultural & economic environments.

Trade Information

Embassy Listings For Gambia
There is listed the embassies of Gambia including the embassies' contact information.