In a groundbreaking infrastructure project intended to increase The Gambia’s port capacity and solidify its position in regional and global trade, President Adama Barrow formally laid the cornerstone for the construction of a $1 billion deep-sea port in Sanyang, Kombo South, West Coast Region, on Saturday, July 5, 2025.
It is anticipated that the new facility, which will be built over six years, will relieve some of the strain on the Port of Banjul, which has long struggled with congestion and capacity issues. When the Sanyang Deep Sea Port is finished, it will be able to handle larger ships and greatly enhance cargo handling, which will increase trade and economic growth in The Gambia.
Through the joint venture company Alport Banjul, the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) and the Turkish-based Albayrak Group are carrying out the project under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). There will be three investment phases for the port’s development: €253 million for the first five years, €145 million from 2029 to 2038, and €207 million from 2039 to 2053. The concession agreement lasts for 30 years, after which the Gambia’s government will once again fully own the infrastructure.
President Barrow underlined during the foundation stone-laying ceremony that the port will be a strategic asset to get around the limitations of the current Banjul port and establish The Gambia as a gateway for regional trade. In contrast to the constantly growing amount of cargo being handled, GPA has been functioning for the past few years within its constrained infrastructure, he said.
President Barrow assured the public of the project’s long-term advantages, despite reservations expressed by some regarding its location. He emphasized that the private partner will provide all funding for the investment, with no direct funding from the government.
“At the conclusion of the concession period, the Gambia’s government will receive the new and upgraded port infrastructure,” President Barrow stated.
Additionally, President Barrow promised that the construction of the Sanyang Deep Sea Port would be accompanied by large investments in public amenities, necessary facilities, and surrounding road infrastructure, which would benefit the entire country, with a focus on the Sanyang community.
He was hopeful that the port would improve The Gambia’s ability to serve European markets in addition to establishing it as a major trade and logistics hub in West Africa.
The president called on Gambians to support the project with optimism and a forward-thinking mindset, particularly those who live in Sanyang. He also reminded the Albayrak Group that the Gambia’s government and citizens expect the concession agreement’s terms and commitments to be fully adhered to. The main objective of the deep-sea port project is its transformative potential to reposition The Gambia as a major maritime hub in West Africa, according to Ousman Jobarteh, Managing Director of the Gambia Ports Authority, who also spoke to the audience. He added that the program will act as a stimulant for socioeconomic growth throughout the nation.
“This deep-sea project’s primary goal is to reestablish the Gambia as a significant maritime hub in West Africa, which could have a transformative effect.”
Jobarteh underlined that numerous studies have highlighted the pressing need to increase port capacity in The Gambia, pointing out that the Port of Banjul has surpassed its operational limits, negatively impacting trade flow and business efficiency.
He claimed that Sanyang’s new deep-sea port has the potential to revolutionize the nation’s economy by creating both direct and indirect job opportunities and greatly increasing GDP.
The upcoming port’s cutting-edge features, which include a deep access channel to handle larger vessels, modern container handling equipment, and expanded storage facilities, were described by Nuri Albayrak, Chairman of the Albayrak Group. “We want to make the Gambia a major regional trading hub by increasing input capacity and improving operational efficiency,” he said.
Construction will soon start, he continued, and thousands of Gambians should be able to find work in a variety of technical and skilled fields. “The work will soon start; thousands of Gambians will be able to find jobs in a variety of technical and skill-related roles during this phase.”
According to him, the project is the result of a solid and open public-private partnership based on trust and a common goal for the future of The Gambia. He underlined that all international safety, security, and environmental protection standards will be fully adhered to in the development and operation of the port.
He continued by saying that the port is anticipated to greatly contribute to long-term employment opportunities by providing hundreds of permanent jobs for Gambians upon completion.
The project was praised as a historic accomplishment for the whole Kombo region by Lamin Jabang, the Alkalo of Sanyang. “You have brought about a previously unheard-of development in this community.” He informed the president, “We are thrilled about this impending development in our community.
The $1 billion project will include social amenities like restaurants, museums, and other public facilities to benefit the local community in addition to the essential port infrastructure.
