The Trans-Gambia Corridor Special Economic Zone (SEZ) & Rural Enterprise Anchor Project is a USD 350.68 million flagship development designed to connect smallholder farmers and fishing communities to domestic and export markets through an integrated network of aggregation, processing and industrial facilities. Anchored by a Special Economic Zone along the Trans-Gambia Corridor, the project will establish five rural aggregation and processing centres linked to industrial, logistics and value-add activities within the SEZ. A catalytic investment of USD 76.4 million in enabling and shared infrastructure is expected to unlock a further USD 274.28 million in private-sector investment across industrial facilities, agricultural production and processing activities. The project aims to strengthen agricultural value chains, support industrialisation, reduce import dependence and expand export opportunities.
Project overview
Investment opportunity
The Trans-Gambia Corridor SEZ & Rural Enterprise Anchor Project offers private investors an opportunity to participate in the development of a large-scale industrial, agribusiness and logistics platform strategically located along the Trans-Gambia Corridor. The project is structured to leverage USD 76.4 million of catalytic public and blended finance to unlock approximately USD 274.3 million in private-sector investment across manufacturing, agro-processing, fisheries, logistics, warehousing and commercial operations. Investment opportunities include PPP concession arrangements, strategic equity participation, joint ventures, industrial facility development and agribusiness production ventures. The project benefits from completed master planning, financial modelling and economic analysis, as well as direct links to agricultural and fisheries value chains through a network of aggregation and processing centres. Financial projections indicate a post-tax project IRR of 17.1% and an equity IRR of 22.3%. The wider programme is expected to stimulate industrial growth, expand exports, improve market access and support economic development along one of The Gambia’s most important trade corridors.
Investment types sought
Project status
Development stage
Structuring & preparation
Current status / progress to date
The project has completed its master plan, cost estimates, financial model, economic appraisal and environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA). Cabinet approval has been secured and project land has been identified on government-owned sites. The project is now progressing toward implementation, with establishment of the Project Implementation Unit (PIU), creation of the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), and selection of a strategic concessionaire and private-sector partners identified as the next key milestones.
Additional project information
- Lead agency
- Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment
Expected impact
Economic & development benefits
- Creates approximately 68,000 direct and indirect jobs by Year 10, including 56,700 direct jobs and 11,300 indirect jobs
- Connects smallholder farmers and fishing communities to formal industrial offtake and export markets through five aggregation and processing centres
- Generates an estimated USD 426 million in annual processing and trade transactions by Year 10
- Strengthens agro-processing, manufacturing, logistics and regional value chains while reducing dependence on imported processed food and agricultural products
- Mobilises USD 274.28 million in private-sector investment through catalytic public and blended finance of USD 76.40 million
Climate & resilience benefits
- Strengthens the resilience of rural agricultural and fisheries value chains through improved aggregation, storage, processing and market infrastructure
- Reduces post-harvest losses while improving market access and price realisation for rural producers
- Diversifies rural livelihoods through agro-processing, manufacturing and value-added activities
- Strengthens supply chain resilience by improving connectivity between rural production areas and processing and export markets
- Environmental and social risks will be assessed through an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) prior to implementation
Contact
Contact team
For more information about this project, please contact the Commonwealth Investment Platform team.