An Introduction to Gambia
The Republic of Gambia is the smallest country in mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean. As with many other West African countries, Gambia's history is heavily influenced by the slave trade, which led to the first, Portugese colony on the Gambia and later, a British one. Two centuries of struggle between the British and French were concluded by an agreement establishing a British colony within the current boundaries in 1889. Although the UK officially abolished slavery in 1807, it was only finally extinguished in the Gambia a century later, in 1906. See full country profile.Latest Research News from Africa
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GOVERNMENT: republic
AREA: 11,295 sq km
POPULATION: 1,797,860 (July 2011 est.)
MAJOR LANGUAGE: Official Language: English
Some business and general info
The Market Research Industry
Trade and Industry in Gambia
The Gambia has competed in every Summer Olympics since 1984 - but has never won any medals. It also has a National Paralympic Committee, but has never entered any athletes - this is due to change at London 2012!
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The Republic of Gambia is the smallest country in mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean. As with many other West African countries, Gambia's history is heavily influenced by the slave trade, which led to the first, Portugese colony on the Gambia and later, a British one. Two centuries of struggle between the British and French were concluded by an agreement establishing a British colony within the current boundaries in 1889. Although the UK officially abolished slavery in 1807, it was only finally extinguished in the Gambia a century later, in 1906.
Gambia gained independence in 1965 and despite an attempted coup and a period of military rule, it has since enjoyed relative political stability. The economy is dominated by farming, fishing and tourism and the country is fertile, but around a third of the population still lives below the international poverty line of $1.25 a day.
GDP: $3.494 billion (2010 est.) - $1,900 per capita (2010 est.)
Religions Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%
Currency: Dalasi (GMD) - $1 = 46.7 GMD
Telephone Code: +220
The Gambia has a liberal, market-based economy, a fluctuating exchange rate with no exchange controls, and a significant tourism industry.
Famous for its export of groundnuts (peanuts), the country also has a significant re-export trade based around its ocean port, with low import duties and minimal administrative procedures.
2010 exports of around $103m and consisting largely of peanuts, fish, cotton lint and palm kernels' went chiefly to India (47.5%), France (12.6%), China (10.9%) and the UK (7.4%). Imports far outweighed them at $332.5m, consisting of food, manufacturing products, fuel, machinery and transport equipment - and came from China (over 20%), Senegal, Brazil, Ivory Coast, the Netherlands and India.
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