Infrastructure Push
By: Staff Reporter
The President of the Confederation of Gambian Industries (CGI), Hon. Sir. Farimang Saho, has congratulated the government of President Adama Barrow on the commissioning of a new ferry asset into the national transport system, describing it as a significant upgrade to the country’s critical infrastructure.
In a statement, Saho said the deployment of the vessel represents a “high-impact intervention” that strengthens The Gambia’s logistics and mobility network, noting that it goes beyond symbolism to deliver real functional capacity.
He explained that the new ferry will expand transport throughput, reduce congestion at crossing points, and improve the reliability of both passenger and cargo movement across key routes in the country.
According to him, the improvement will also enhance industrial efficiency by facilitating faster movement of raw materials and finished goods, lowering transaction costs and strengthening supply chain continuity.
“This is a decisive intervention in real economy enablers. It signals execution rather than rhetoric, and demonstrates alignment between policy intent and infrastructure delivery,” he stated, while commending stakeholders involved in the project.
Saho further situated the development within the broader African industrialisation agenda, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), stressing that trade expansion depends not only on policy frameworks but also on functional infrastructure.
He noted that across the continent, infrastructure gaps continue to constrain economic integration, citing limitations in ports, fragmented rail systems, incomplete highway corridors, and aging ferry networks.
“The challenge is not vision, but integration and performance,” he said, adding that inefficiencies in transport systems often disrupt value chains and slow economic activity.
The CGI President observed that ferry transport, in particular, remains a critical but often underdeveloped link in regional trade corridors, frequently affected by capacity constraints and outdated equipment.
He added that where infrastructure is improved, the economic benefits are immediate, including increased throughput, reduced costs, shorter transit times, job creation, and expanded market participation.
Saho concluded that infrastructure remains the foundation of industrialisation, stressing that sustainable economic transformation depends on sustained investment in transport and logistics systems.
