The Ministry of Commerce has sought federal cabinet approval to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Gambia to strengthen bilateral cooperation in agricultural trade, particularly rice exports.

The Gambian government approached the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) to establish formal government-to-government (G2G) cooperation for the import of agricultural commodities.

The development follows recent engagements facilitated by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), during which Gambian officials expressed strong interest in importing Pakistani rice.

Gambia has reportedly indicated a demand of around 145,000 metric tons.

Following these discussions, TCP initiated negotiations with Gambian counterparts to finalize a structured framework for trade cooperation under the proposed MoU.

Officials said the agreement would institutionalize a formal mechanism for strategic trade between both countries, enabling direct state-level coordination for the supply of rice and other agricultural commodities through TCP.

They added that the arrangement is expected to strengthen Pakistan’s export base, enhance food security cooperation, and support broader economic diplomacy by expanding access to new African markets and reducing reliance on private intermediaries.

The draft MoU has already been cleared by the Law Division, while the Ministry of National Food Security and Research and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have also endorsed the proposal.

The Ministry of Commerce has now recommended that the federal cabinet authorize TCP to sign the agreement with the Gambian ministry, allowing the Chairman/CEO of TCP to execute the MoU on behalf of the Government of Pakistan.

Published Date: May 13, 2026