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Momodou
Denmark
11826 Posts |
 Posted - 11 Apr 2008 : 16:45:10
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Gambia and Senegal Customs Administrators Meet
By Saikou Ceesay
The 6th bilateral meeting between the two customs’ administrations was opened on Tuesday, 8 April, at the Paradise Suites Hotel. The meeting paved pragmatic ways of dealing with common concerns and issues through dialogue, cooperation and understanding.
Presenting his paper before the bilateral meeting, the Commissioner General of The Gambia Revenue Authority, Mr. Momodou K. Tambajang, said they are aware of the various protocols of ECOWAS which according to him, are aimed at facilitating the free movement of goods and people across borders.
Mr. Tambajang said that economic growth, development and integration cannot take place in the absence of free trade and the movement of goods and people between the two countries. He said that their role as customs institutions of both countries is merely to serve as facilitators of this interaction, so as to ensure movement of goods and people. Mr. Tambajang tasked participants to come out with tangible recommendations on how to create joint border posts that will not only be managed effectively but also cost effectively.
He said that with this meeting they will create better communications and information sharing and exchanges between the two institutions so as to further promote and facilitate trade.
The head of the Senegalese Delegation, Mr. Armand Jean Jacque Manga, said that their coming is to extend and nourish the relationship that exists between the two countries. He said they jointly belong to the same organizations, which is the OMVG, ECOWAS and the African Union. He said that it did not only stop at these specific relations, but equally the common vision on the very important issues that the highest authorities of the two countries share.
He said the need to realize real integration of the two economies compelled the two states to come up with multi-dimensional cooperation, within which the customs administrations ought to play a leading role.
In his view, coming up with a cooperation framework that is permanent and dynamic will promote trade links within the two countries. He urged that the implementation of these recommendations should be a synergy of action which should improve trade.
The Department of State for Finance and Economic Affairs was represented by the Deputy Permanent Secretary for Finance Mrs. Ada Gaye, who expressed her office’s desire for the review of progress made since the last bilateral meeting in 2006, especially on issues regarding the implementation of the joint customs posts, reactivation of trade and curtailing smuggling among others.
Mrs. Gaye said that issues affecting the trading environment in the two countries, if resolved, would serve to improve the competitiveness of two countries in the sub- region.
However, Mrs. Gaye raised concern about the issue of smuggling, especially, as it not only undermines the economic policies of the two countries but also makes the two countries unfavorable investment destinations. She, therefore, urged for the deliberations to come up with practical strategies to combat this menace and make appropriate recommendations for policy formulation.
The occasion was attended by the Chairman of the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), Geoffrey Renner, Permanent Secretary for Trade, Yusupha Kah, Momodou S. Njie, Foreign Affairs, Baba F. Trawally and Mr. Ousman Bah, both from GRA, and the Senegalese delegation.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 42/2008, 11 – 13 April 2008
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