National Validation of Digital Mapping for Priority Value Chains in The Gambia

The Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GiEPA), in collaboration with GIRAV, today convened a national validation workshop on the Digital Mapping of Priority Value Chains at the GIRAV Head Office in Banjul.

Delivering the welcoming remarks, the Director General of GIRAV, Aji Ramatoulie Hydara Sanyang, highlighted the significance of the initiative. She emphasized that digital mapping represents a transformative step for The Gambia, enabling real-time connectivity across the country. According to her, the platform makes it possible to identify and engage farmers in remote areas such as Basse while operating from Banjul, thereby simplifying the process of linking investors with producers nationwide.

The Chief Executive Officer of GiEPA, Ousainou Senghore, officially opened the workshop. He reaffirmed GiEPA’s mandate to promote exports and facilitate trade and investment. He noted that the validation exercise is not merely procedural, but a strategic effort to expand the platform’s database to include additional sectors such as tourism and fisheries. He further encouraged stakeholders and beneficiaries to take ownership of the digital platform to ensure its sustainability and effectiveness.

Providing an overview of the initiative, the Director of Export and Enterprise, Carlos Gomez, explained that the digital mapping exercise involved the collection of clean, reliable data across the country. He commended the consultant and the entire team for their dedication and hard work from the inception of the project. The lead consultant, Dr. Malanding S. Jaiteh, subsequently delivered a detailed presentation on the findings and outcomes of the mapping exercise.

The validation workshop concluded with closing remarks from the Digital Information Technology Specialist, Suun Faye, who urged participants to fully utilize the platform. He stressed its importance in strengthening the agricultural sector and enhancing data-driven decision-making.