Foreign sellers at the Gambia Chamber of Commerce trade fair complained about poor business in 2025. Nigerian vendor Famoroti Adebola sells colorful African fabrics but reports much slower sales compared to last year. She accepted any reasonable offers from customers to avoid returning home with no money. International vendors pay 40,000 dalasi for booth space compared to 15,000 dalasi charged to local businesses. Adebola criticized the unfair pricing system that hurts foreign participants.
Tapsoba Seini from Burkina Faso has attended the fair since 2009, selling handmade African clothing. He normally sells all his merchandise during previous years, but struggles to find buyers this time. Border guards charged him 20,000 dalasi to enter Gambia from Senegal. The vendor called these crossing fees excessive and urged officials to reduce costs. He accepted that business involves both winning and losing cycles.
Ghanaian vendor Sheitu Abdula blamed the timing change for reduced customer attendance at this year's event. The fair normally happens during February, but organizers moved it to May. She urged local citizens to visit and support international businesses at the trade fair. Adebola wants more food variety from different African countries rather than the same Gambian dishes every day. Several vendors suggested the chamber should sponsor small businesses to help them grow.
Tapsoba Seini from Burkina Faso has attended the fair since 2009, selling handmade African clothing. He normally sells all his merchandise during previous years, but struggles to find buyers this time. Border guards charged him 20,000 dalasi to enter Gambia from Senegal. The vendor called these crossing fees excessive and urged officials to reduce costs. He accepted that business involves both winning and losing cycles.
Ghanaian vendor Sheitu Abdula blamed the timing change for reduced customer attendance at this year's event. The fair normally happens during February, but organizers moved it to May. She urged local citizens to visit and support international businesses at the trade fair. Adebola wants more food variety from different African countries rather than the same Gambian dishes every day. Several vendors suggested the chamber should sponsor small businesses to help them grow.
