Afia Financial Services Gambia Limited and Remit Choice Money Transfer had, over the weekend, launched their partnership in the financial service sector, at a colorful ceremony held at Metzy Residence Hotel.
The main objective of the partnership between the duo, as explained by the General Manager (GM) of Afia Financial Services Mr. Ebrima Bah, is to expand and increase their capital investments in the financial market of the Gambia.
He told his audience, “We are aware of the government priority of ensuring a sound financial system which aligns to our long-term visions, objectives, and framework”. Bah added that they, at Afia Financial Services, also have a ‘working inclusive partnership’ with the Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG) in the development of the Gambia’s financial sector over the past six (6) years, noting as they launched their partnership with Remit Choice, “we continue to maintain our commitment to the people of the Gambia”.
GM Bah recalled Afia Financial Services Gambia Ltd. was established six years ago as a foreign exchange bureau in the Gambia, providing non-banking services, including buying and selling of foreign currency and processing of remittances (local and international transfer).
The company has registered 25 branches across the country to provide it’s services to the doorstep of the people of the Gambia, Bah informed. He said recently, the company has signed a partnership with Remit Choice-UK that gives Gambians in the diaspora, the opportunity to have Remit Choice Services.
The General Manager revealed that the company is currently partnering with over 10 international transfers; that it has a local brand called Afia Money Transfer–this is the domestic transfer that gives an opportunity to the people to send and receive the money within the Gambia with it’s fast, reliable and efficient service.
He informed that they receive international transfers from the USA, the UK, and Europe, and sending transfers to African countries as well.
The Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Mr. Baboucarr Saho, believes the partnership between the two not just limit itself within the businesses that constitute this partnership, but it’s also very symbolic of what the GCCI has been advocating for a very long time: to encourage businesses to come together and form partnerships that work because it makes them more competitive. He added it also gives the businesses capacities not just to exist in the Gambia but also to extend their tentacles beyond their shores.
The senior Chamber official went further to reassure that “GCCI will continue to support partnerships like this, and we will continue to advocate for job creation. And that can only happen through the private sector.
Also speaking at the launch event was Ansab Riwan, the CEO of Remit Choice, who said Remit Choice was established in 2019, ‘but Alhamdullilah [Thank God] it’s one of the fastest-growing companies within the UK, Europe, and other countries.
He held: “We are not only doing business just to make money. Money is not the objective, but we are here to help support the communities not just in the Gambia, but everywhere we are or do the remittance business- this is exactly our objective.”
CEO Halimatou Jallow of Nafa Financial Services also made some remarks.
