ECONOMIC SELF-RELIANCE AND PROSPERITY

We will introduce guided safari tours and birdwatching trails that create jobs for local youth as guides and conservationists. Along the coast and the river, we will support projects like river cruises, historical tours of sites such as James Island (Kunta Kinteh Island), and cultural festivals that celebrate Gambian music, art, and traditions. Additionally, we will vigorously market The Gambia in new international markets, tapping into tourist segments in Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas beyond our traditional European base. By diversifying what we offer and extending the tourism calendar, we will increase tourist arrivals, lengthen their stays, and spread the benefits of tourism to communities across the country. FISCAL REFORM A self-reliant economy also means standing on our own feet financially. We will undertake sweeping fiscal reforms to boost revenue and control expenditure. It is unacceptable that nearly half of our national revenue is lost to inefficiency, corruption, or debt service. PROGRESS will maximize domestic revenue collection without raising tax rates, by making tax administration more effective 14 and honest. We will digitize all tax and customs operations to seal loopholes every business and taxpayer will be registered in a central database, and payments will be tracked electronically to prevent underreporting and theft. Tax evasion and skimming by revenue officers have long plagued our economy; our administration will impose strict penalties for these offenses and use technology to make such diversion nearly impossible. When everyone pays what is due and those funds are safeguarded, The Gambia can easily double its current revenue. Those additional funds will be channeled into development projects that benefit citizens directly.

ELIMINATING WASTEFUL SPENDING
In tandem with raising revenue, we will rein in wasteful spending. A significant portion of the budget today is eaten up by non-productive expenses for example, excessive travel budgets, untargeted subsidies, and the ever-growing government wage bill. PROGRESS will re-prioritize government spending to align with our development goals. We will cut down unnecessary foreign trips and per diems for officials, and invest that money in schools, hospitals, and roads instead. We will also implement project and performance-based budgeting, where each department must justify its expenditures in terms of results delivered to the public. Our philosophy is simple: the people’s money must be spent on the people’s needs. Every dalasi should go toward something that yields progress or relief for Gambians, not to pad the privileges of those in power. By instilling discipline in fiscal management, we will reduce deficits and free up resources to improve public services. SELF RELIANCE Moreover, PROGRESS will explore innovative sources of financing that do not saddle us with unsustainable debt or dependency. We plan to expand public￾private partnerships (PPPs) for infrastructure, allowing the government to team 15 up with reputable companies to build roads, bridges, and power plants that can pay for themselves over time. We will broaden the domestic bond market so that Gambian citizens and businesses, as well as African partners, can invest in our nation’s development and earn returns, rather than depending on costly loans from abroad. The Gambia once had profitable state-owned enterprises, and we will support the revival or creation of such enterprises where they make sense. Whether it’s revitalizing agri-business ventures or launching new initiatives in sectors like renewable energy always with sound business plans and professional management. We reject the notion that our government must rely indefinitely on foreign aid or on policy dictates from international lenders. Instead, we will chart an independent course, funding growth by mobilizing our own resources and forging equitable investment partnerships.

RESPONSIBLE DEBT POLICY
Of course, in today’s interconnected world, loans and debts are a reality but they must be managed wisely. Our government will pursue a responsible debt policy. Under PROGRESS, we will favor borrowing in our local currency and from domestic lenders where possible, to avoid the currency risks that come with external debt. When we do take loans, it will only be for projects that directly spur economic growth and can generate revenue to repay the debt. No more borrowing millions for vanity projects or ill-considered ventures that burden the nation without yielding benefits. We will also aggressively seek better terms on existing debt and push for debt relief internationally. In fact, The Gambia will join hands with other African nations to demand a form of reparative justice: forgiveness of debts that have accumulated in part due to unfair global systems and the legacy of slavery and colonialism. The transatlantic slave trade and colonial exploitation set back Africa’s development, and while those wounds can never be fully healed, relieving the crushing debt on our economies would be a meaningful step forward. By reducing the debt burden, The Gambia could 16 redirect billions of dalasis from interest payments into building schools, clinics, and industries. PROGRESS will champion this cause on the world stage while simultaneously ensuring that any future borrowing is prudent and purposeful.

YOUTH AS THE DRIVERS OF OUR PROSPERITY
Our plan for prosperity places a special focus on youth and working Gambians. With young people making up the majority of our population, their success will determine our nation’s success. PROGRESS will unleash the entrepreneurial spirit of Gambian youth by supporting small businesses and start-ups. In our first 100 days, we will introduce tax exemptions for new youth-led enterprises, giving young entrepreneurs a crucial break as they launch their ventures. We will also establish a start-up fund to provide seed capital and mentorship for promising business ideas in fields like agriculture, technology, and the creative industries. By empowering youth to create their own opportunities, we will simultaneously tackle unemployment and spur innovation in our economy. Over the first three years, we expect this initiative to generate new jobs, strengthen food security through youth-driven agribusiness, and position our young people as drivers of sustainable development. LIVING WAGE AND NATIONAL WELFARE Ultimately, the true measure of economic progress is the improved welfare of our citizens. Thus, poverty alleviation is the bottom line of all our economic policies. We believe that anyone who works hard should earn enough to live in dignity. To make this a reality, PROGRESS will implement a national minimum income policy. After broad consultations with labor, businesses, and experts, we will set a fair minimum wage across different sectors. For example, estimates indicate that workers in the informal sector should earn at least D10,000–15,000 per month, and those in formal employment (private or public) should earn a minimum of about D20,000–25,000 per month, to meet basic living costs. We 17 will phase in these minimum income levels and support employers in raising wages, so that as the economy grows, its fruits are shared by all. In addition to wage policies, we will strengthen social safety nets and community development programs to uplift the poorest households. Our goal is not just to reduce poverty but to fundamentally break its cycle. We envision a Gambia where every family can afford decent shelter, food, healthcare, and education; a nation with a growing middle class and opportunities for all. Through hard work, wise management, and a people-first approach, PROGRESS will deliver an economy that works for every Gambian.