Gambia

The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty, but tensions have flared up intermittently since then. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH led a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned political activity. A new constitution and presidential elections in 1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH has been elected president in all subsequent elections, including most recently in late 2006.

Main Airports

Banjul (BJL) (Yundum International)

U.S. Embassy

Fajara on Kairaba Avenue
Tel: [220] 4392856

Statistics

GDP: purchasing power parity:

$3.024 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.5% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity:

1,900 (2005 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8.8% (2005 est.)

Labor force:

400,000 (1996)

Exports:

$140.3 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - partners:

India 34.9%, UK 18.1%, Indonesia 8.2%, Malaysia 6.1%, Senegal 4.6%, Belgium 4.2% (2005)

Imports:

$197 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - partners:

China 21%, Senegal 11.1%, Cote d'Ivoire 8.3%, Brazil 5.9%, US 5.1%, UK 5% (2005)

Population:

1,641,564 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.84% (2006 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line:

NA%

Major Industries:

processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing

Employing Workers: 25*

Registering Property: 130*

Enforcing Contracts: 53*

Closing a Business: 76*

*2006 World Bank rank out of 175 countries

Starting a Business

The table below shows the number of steps and the amount of time needed to start a business, on average

Indicator	Gambia, The	Region
Procedures (number)	8	11.1
Time (days)	27	61.8

Gambia, The Risk Assessment

Country Rating

Rating: D

A high-risk political and economic situation and an often very difficult business environment can have a very significant impact on corporate payment behaviour. Corporate default probability is very high.

• Agriculture
• Apparel
• Arts & Crafts
• Automobile
• Bags, Cases & Boxes
• Chemicals
• Computer Hardware & Software
• Construction & Real Estate
• Consumer Electronics
• Electrical & Electronics
• Energy & Environment
• Food & Beverage
• Furniture & Furnishing
• Health & Medicine
• Home Supplies
• Industrial Supplies
• Lights & Lighting
• Machinery
• Mineral & Materials
• Office Supplies
• Security & Protection
• Service
• Sports & Entertainment
• Telecommunications
• Textile
• Toys
• Transportation