Promote:
Invest in the Gambia
A short guide for companies expanding into the Gambia: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Gambia at a glance
PopulationEstimate
2.82 million
Population was 2,822,093 in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Gambia population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDPEstimate
US$2.59 billion
GDP was US$2.59 billion in 2025 at current prices.
Source: World Bank WDI, Gambia GDP, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per personEstimate
US$919
GDP per person was US$919.06 in 2025 at current prices.
Source: World Bank WDI, Gambia GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growthEstimate
5.9%
Real GDP growth was 5.89 percent in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Gambia real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
6.1%
Twelve-month consumer price inflation was 6.1 percent in September 2026, the newest month on the statistics office portal.
Source: GBoS data portal, Gambia inflation, September 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$266.6 million
Foreign direct investment inflows were US$266.56 million in 2025, per UNCTADstat.
Source: UNCTADstat, Gambia FDI inflows, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the Gambian dalasi.
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of The Gambia, Secretariat report, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of December 17, 2025
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
The agency for investment and export promotion is GIEPA.
Source: GIEPA, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
As of 2025, per the WTO review, Single Window Business Registration offices in Banjul and Kanifing offer one-stop business registration, separate from GIEPA.
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of The Gambia, Secretariat report, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of December 17, 2025
The GIEPA Act, 2015 lets the Minister close fields to foreign investors by regulation and lets Government reserve shares in mining and petroleum; no such regulation was found.
Source: GIEPA Act 2015, GIEPA copy of the Act (opens in a new tab) · as of December 29, 2015
GIEPA lists one export processing zone by name, the July 22nd Business Park at Yundum.
Source: GIEPA, EPZs and Parks page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in the Gambia
- Submit a letter of intent to GIEPA.Gambia Investment and Export Promotion AgencyOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: GIEPA, How to Invest page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Register the company with the Companies Department: reserve the name, file the articles and pay the fees.Companies Department, Attorney General's Chambers and Ministry of JusticeIncorporation D10,000 to D25,000 by share capital; business registration D1,000Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Ministry of Justice, Company Registration page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Get a tax identification number from the Gambia Revenue Authority.Gambia Revenue AuthorityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: GIEPA, How to Invest page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Get the environmental clearance and sector licenses your project needs from the responsible regulators.National Environment AgencyOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: GIEPA, How to Invest page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 5 more set-up steps
- Apply for a residence and work permit for each expatriate expert, with approval from the Office of the President.Ministry of InteriorResidence permit B: D10,000 a year for ECOWAS nationals; D40,000 for othersOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: GIEPA, How to Invest page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Arrange land through a lease, with facilitation from GIEPA and the Ministerial approvals the land type needs.Gambia Investment and Export Promotion AgencyOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of The Gambia, Secretariat report, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of December 17, 2025
- Open a bank account with a licensed commercial bank.Central Bank of The GambiaOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: GIEPA, How to Invest page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Check the foreign exchange rules for payments and profit transfers with your bank and the Central Bank.Central Bank of The GambiaOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Central Bank of The Gambia, Foreign Exchange Policy, December 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Apply to GIEPA for a Special Investment Certificate or an Export Processing Zone License.Gambia Investment and Export Promotion AgencySpecial Investment Certificate: at least US$250,000 from a foreign enterpriseOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: GIEPA, Incentives page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with GRA. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Meet requirements
Company registry
Companies Department
Companies Department, Attorney General's Chambers and Ministry of Justice
Registers companies, reserves business names and sets incorporation fees by share capital.
Visit Companies Department (opens in a new tab)Source: Ministry of Justice, Company Registration page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Tax and customs authority
GRA
Gambia Revenue Authority
Processes customs declarations in ASYCUDAWorld, licenses clearing agents and administers value added and income taxes.
Visit GRA (opens in a new tab)Source: Gambia Revenue Authority, Customs and Excise FAQs (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Research markets
Regional economic community
ECOWAS
Economic Community of West African States
Regional body
Sets the Trade Liberalisation Scheme that lets originating products move among member states without customs duties.
Visit ECOWAS (opens in a new tab)Source: ECOWAS, About the Trade Liberalisation Scheme (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Chamber of commerce
GCCI
Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Issues certificates of origin to exporting members and offers advisory services, training and trade missions.
Visit GCCI (opens in a new tab)Source: Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, services page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Currency and settlement
The dalasi floats freely, per the Central Bank, and as of 2025, per the WTO review, it depreciated steadily over the review period.
What to do: Confirm the settlement currency and exchange rate terms in your contract.
Sources: Central Bank of The Gambia, Foreign Exchange Policy, December 2023 (opens in a new tab); WTO, Trade Policy Review of The Gambia, Secretariat report, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Reserved sectors
The GIEPA Act lets Government reserve shares in mining and petroleum; as of 2025, per the WTO review, tourist guides must in general be Gambian nationals.
What to do: Ask GIEPA whether your sector needs a joint venture before you apply.
Sources: GIEPA Act 2015, GIEPA copy of the Act (opens in a new tab); WTO, Trade Policy Review of The Gambia, Secretariat report, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Electricity
As of 2025, per the WTO review, unreliable, costly electricity limited value addition, and the authorities expected coverage to reach 90 percent by end 2025, from 62 percent.
What to do: Ask the utility about supply and cost at your site before you commit.
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of The Gambia, Secretariat report, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Land tenure
As of 2025, per the WTO review, statutory and customary land laws overlap, and foreign investors mostly lease land with GIEPA facilitation.
What to do: Confirm title and lease terms with a Gambian lawyer before you pay.
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of The Gambia, Secretariat report, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 2 more
Public debt and arrears
As of 2025, per the WTO review, public debt was 72.0 percent of GDP in 2024, with high risk of external debt distress.
What to do: Check payment terms and timing before you contract with public buyers.
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of The Gambia, Secretariat report, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Investment law changes
The National Assembly finished the GIEPA Amendment Bill's consideration stage on September 15, 2026, but its third reading was dropped from the October 29, 2026 order paper.
What to do: Confirm with GIEPA which incentive rules apply on your application date.
Sources: National Assembly of The Gambia, proceedings, September 15, 2026 (opens in a new tab); National Assembly of The Gambia, order paper, October 29, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare the Gambia with other countriesSet the Gambia beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your Gambia project.
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Promote:Gambia is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 31, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.