By: Astou Jawara
Scores of entrepreneurs across the country and abroad are currently showcasing their various products at the 15th Edition of the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (GCCI’s) Trade Fair Gambia International happening at the new National Trade Fair Grounds, Brusubi Turntable
The TFGI is the leading business exhibition event in The Gambia which creates a platform for enterprises to network and promote their goods and services to the public. It also creates opportunities for small businesses to partner and collaborate with others, both nationally and internationally.
The previous Trade Fair saw over sixty thousand (60,000) visitors within three weeks, and this year’s is expected to witness a surge in visitors.
However, some participants have raised concerns about this year’s trade fair as it’s being held at the GCCI new Trade Fair grounds, as opposed to previous years when the trade fair was held at the Independence Stadium in Bakau–a place many people are familiar with. They said the Brusubi venue might be a challenging one for them.
But many of them (participants) are optimistic that after the official opening, a lot of people would become aware of the new venue and there would be some good sales.
Mr. Musa Juwara, Enterprise Support Officer of GIEPA, said “GIEPA plays a very crucial role in terms of supporting, and also advocating for, the development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in the country.
So, whenever there is an occasion like this, GIEPA is normally at the forefront to support businesses to take part in trade fairs, both nationally and internationally, said Juwara. He disclosed that GIEPA sponsored more than 30 stalls with different entrepreneurs that are involved different types of skills.
Adding that so far, the trade fair is going smoothly and he hopes that at the end of the event entrepreneurs will be able to network, the GIEPA official went on to state, “trade fair is a great opportunity for businesses, especially small businesses, because through trade fairs most of the businesses will have exposure to selling their products. It should be something that should continue not only yearly, but at least, every six-months that would be important”.
Ms. Mariam Sein, an entrepreneur, said the turnout is low for now, different from how the stadium used to be, because it’s a new venue and some people might not know the location. But she’s hopeful that after the official opening ceremony, a lot of people would be aware of the fair.
She claimed the stalls are expensive, but added that they don’t only depend on sales at the fair, as after the trade fair, they do have customers that visit them at their business places.
Moreover, Ms. Sein disclosed that she sells different types of arts work, but some people would say the price ‘is expensive’ without understanding that “stalls are expensive”.
One Fatoumata, a Malian entrepreneur, argued business is going smoothly, but sales are very slow and the stalls are very expensive, thus making it hard for them. She said she paid D30,000 per stall and her two-stalls cost her D60,000.
“If you are a Gambian, the price is less; which is hard because sometimes, we make profit but at times, [there’s] no profit. I want GCCI to consider reducing the price for those of us [who are not Gambian],” the Malian businesswoman, who said she sells different types of natural products and herbal stuffs, told this medium. She had been participating in the trade fair for over 13 years, she claimed; but in this year’s (trade fair) only few customers are coming (so far); perhaps because it’s a new location and many are yet to find out.
“We are expecting to record over 450 participants, including participants from the ECOWAS region, Europe and Asia”, said Bajara Jabbie, Chairman of Trade Fair GCCI, adding they were able to secure a grant from Africa Development Bank for additional 180 tents.
Jabbie assured that the GCCI is committed to ensuring ease of access to the market, creating networking opportunities and visibility for SMEs and entrepreneurs in the continent.
