The Ministry of Trade Industry, Regional Integration and Employment wishes to inform the general public that, following the introduction of a new measure in Senegal on the transportation of cashew sourced in Senegal, the Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment led a delegation to discuss with the Senegalese Authorities the impact of the measure on the cashew trade in The Gambia.

During the discussion, it has been clarified that:

• This measure does not affect cashew sourced from Guinea Bissau and beyond on transit to The Gambia.
• The measure was put in place to support cashew value addition processes in Senegal.

Regarding Gambia-Senegal cashew trade, it was agreed that further discussions would be held between the stakeholders to develop modalities on how Gambian cashew companies could source cashew from Senegal.

In this regard, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment wishes to inform all cashew operators in The Gambia that cashew sourced from Guinea Bissau and beyond are not affected by the measure taken by the Government of Senegal. Therefore, all operators in the cashew sector can continue their normal operations in Guinea Bissau and beyond. All vehicles carrying cashew from Guinea Bissau on transit to Banjul are therefore required to have appropriate transit documents in line with transit requirements. Such vehicles will be escorted through Senegal under normal customs transit formalities.

The Government of The Gambia will continue to work closely with the Government of Senegal to ensure that trade relations between the two countries is facilitated and strengthened.