By Ousman A. Marong
The Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), in conjunction with the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP), KONRAD, and GIZ Gambia office, had on January, 16th, 2020 launched the 14th edition of the annual Trade Fair Gambia International, slated for 21 March to 12 April 2020.
The theme for this year’s edition is; ‘GCC 2020-Partner to Progress.’ The annual Trade Fair is meant to promote and support the entrepreneurship industry. It’s also to ensure the ease and access to the market by creating networking opportunities and visibility for small and medium entrepreneurs.
Bajara Jabbie, Chairman Trade Fair Gambia International (TFGI)-2020, said “GCCI support youth and women empowerment by creating an avenue of development for them and also to create business opportunities for young entrepreneurs.”
He revealed that the last figures from the private sector Development Strategy have shown that small and Medium Enterprises constitute over 90 percent of the Gambia Business Community. The Chairman added that SMEs contribute to the creation of jobs, thereby reducing unemployment,
“The previous Trade Fair saw over sixty thousand visitors within three weeks and we expect a surge in visits in the upcoming edition. We expect to record over 450 participants including participants from the ECOWAS region and Asia,” he remarked. He’s positive that this year’s Trade Fair would be a successful one, and also be bigger and better.
Stalls will be allocated based on first come first serve, Jabbie revealed, while urging members of TFGI to make their payments at any nearest Guaranty Trust Bank branches.
Meantime, as some vendors are questioning what they regarded as ‘high cost’ of rented stalls for the Fair, the GCCI’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Alieu Secka has stressed that they (GCCI) hadn’t increased the prices of stalls for the past four years.
“The commerce and industry is working tirelessly to make sure that people and their properties are secured,” he asserted. The CEO disclosed GCCI’s plans in extending the trade Fairs to Farafenni, Soma, Basse, and Brikamaba, before the end of the year.
He justified: “We (GCCI) will decentralize the Trade Fair so that it will not be regarded as Banjul Chamber of commerce only, but the Gambia Chamber of Commerce.”
Ms. Sarata Conateh, Director of Business Development, in her remarks, lamented that one of the greatest challenges they are faced with is the mindset of the exhibitors whom, she said, are with the habit of tending to believe that the trade fair is a money-making venture.
Madam Conateh held that, a trade fair is a place where people go to exhibit in order to be known, by showcasing their talents and ideas on how to improve on their products and services.
