In a bid to curb the menace of cross boarder crimes, illegal trading, among other things, the top brass of the Senegalese and The Gambia customs officials on Tuesday convened its 6th bilateral meeting, held at the Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi.

The meeting was a follow up to the previous bilateral meeting held in Dakar in October 2006, where issues regarding the the implementation of the inter-state road transport, re-opening of the Basse-Bajarra route, implementation of the joint customs post, reactivation of the trade observatory group and exchange of intelligence on authentics relating to cross boarder threats, among others, top the agenda of the discussion.

In his welcoming speech, Momodou Kabba Tambajang Commisssioner General of The Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), recognised the fact that the Gambia and Senegal are inextricably linked historically, culturally and geographically, in a manner that makes the two countries one family.

According to the GRA boss, economic growth, development and integration cannot take place in the absence of free trade and the movement of goods and people. He added that their role as customs institutions of both countries is merely to serve as facilitators of this interaction so as to ensure save movement of goods and people.

“In the same vein, through our work, we ensure that our governments generate legitimate revenue as stipulated in the law.

Thus as far as the government of The Gambia and The Gambia Revenue Authority are concerned, we are not competing and contesting with our counterparts in Senegal, rather our aim is to ensure that all of us as nations and people benefit from legal trade and bonafide economic activity,” commissioner general tambajang told the gathering of experts.

Trade according to him is one of the major global act activities changing lives and transforming nations.  Therefore, The Gambia and Senegal cannot afford to allow mere administrative bottle nects and unreasonable competition to dilute the potential that trade can earn the two governments,” Kabba Tambajang observed.

He revealed that the whole aim of the creation of the GRA is to streamline revenue collection so as to make it more effective, less expensive and professional.

He described the meeting as an important event in the development of custom in The Gambia and expressed hope that strong recommendations will be made to review the earlier mentioned agenda for discussion.

Ada Gaye, deputy permanent secretary at the department of state for Finance and Economic Affairs on behalf of Musa Balla Gaye, secretary of state for Finance and Economic Affairs, said the issues for discussion in bilateral meeting are intended to strengthen the friendship bond between the Gambia and Senegal, provide the conduicive environment for the enhancement of bilateral trade activities, to improve trade facilitation and by extension the economic well being of the people of the two countries.

According to DPS Gaye, the Department of state for Finance and Economic Affairs is concerned about the issue of smuggling, adding that it does not only undermines the economic policies of the two countries, but it also make them to become an unfavourble investment destination.

DPS Gaye also observed that globalisation has continued to exert pressure on developing countries efforts to mobilise sustainable domestic revenue and thus creating micro-economic instability.

“It also calls for proactive and imaginative ways of dealing with cross boarder issues and more collaboration in order to address common challenges,” she further stated.

DPS Gaye finally wish the gathering a successful deliberations and deliberations and declared the the meeting open.

For his part, Armand Jean Jacque Nanga, director general of customs in Senegal, described the bilateral meeting as a step in realising a real integration of the two country’s economies, which compels the two states (The Gambia and Senegal).

The senegalese customs boss said the bilateral meeting will help to strengthen the existing cooperation between the two countries, adding that the meeting is also timely as it is scheduled at a time when commodity prices are escalating.

He thanked The Gambia customs department for the warm welcome accorded to them.