Business leaders in The Gambia seek Turkish investment

Business leaders in The Gambia are urging Turkish entrepreneurs to invest in the West African nation, highlighting diverse opportunities across multiple sectors.

Dennis Elverir, a Turkish energy company owner, told Anadolu Agency that The Gambia serves as a gateway to West Africa despite its small size.

“The Gambia is making rapid progress. Development is happening in almost every sector,” Elverir said. “We operate in the energy sector and continue to invest there. Due to its strategic location, I believe it holds a more valuable position compared to many larger countries in West Africa.”

Elverir noted that his company prioritizes Türkiye in their Gambian projects, sourcing materials like transformers and panels from Türkiye whenever possible.

He advised Turkish companies interested in The Gambia to seek guidance from the Turkish embassy and Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), which can provide accurate information and direction.

“Great opportunities await Turkish businesspeople here. They should come and evaluate opportunities in their respective fields,” Elverir emphasized. “The Gambia shouldn’t be viewed in isolation because it’s surrounded by Senegal. Therefore, it represents a much larger market than it appears.”

Turkish influence surprise

Born in Finland and educated in London, Elverir discovered Türkiye’s strong presence in The Gambia only after arriving through his Finnish-British partnership.

“Before coming here, I had no idea Türkiye was so influential in this country. This became a significant advantage for us,” he said. “I learned after arriving that we have an embassy here, and that Turkish institutions train Gambian military and police, and operate educational and charitable organizations. This certainly made us proud.”

Elverir highlighted that the Turkish diaspora in The Gambia is undertaking major projects, including port management. He invited those skeptical about Africa’s potential to visit The Gambia and see firsthand how Turkish citizens are highly regarded.

“This respect stems from Türkiye’s years of aid, investment, and strategic moves,” Elverir said. “For those questioning Türkiye’s presence in Africa, I invite them to contact us. We can provide necessary details and assist those considering ventures in The Gambia.”

Optimistic investment climate in The Gambia

Fatima Senghore, a Gambian businesswoman and DEIK representative, emphasized that despite the country’s small size, it offers significant potential.

“Turks can export to The Gambia and also import from The Gambia to Türkiye,” Senghore said. “The only thing I can tell Turkish people is to come see our country and decide accordingly. There’s much to be done here. We’ve established a system that allows foreign investors to conduct business easily.”

According to Senghore, The Gambia offers favorable terms for investors with no restrictive tax policies, allowing businesses to establish factories, sell products domestically, or export them without tax burdens.

“You can set up your factory in The Gambia and sell your products both domestically and internationally without any tax system applied to this. There are no negative procedures restricting your investments. You can also easily transfer your money back to Türkiye,” she explained. “For us, the priority is investments that will employ Gambian people.”

As the DEIK representative for The Gambia, Senghore has made numerous visits to Türkiye in an effort to convince Turkish businesses to invest in her country.