By Mariam Williams
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Mr. Alieu Secka, has stated that business is abnormal due to Covid-19.
He made the disclosure on Thursday during a meeting at the Petroleum House sittuated at the turn-table.
Secka told the gathering that GCCI is in a war mood because this is not their normal business, adding that their business is to support local entrepreneurs and to make sure they improve livelihoods in the Gambia.
The GCCI CEO lamented that the effect of Covid-19 is over all because apart from the shops that sell foods, almost all the shops are closed down and that means for everyday that the economy is shut down, they are losing livelihood and the GDP is going to suffer.
However, he pointed out that the Gambia is predominantly an imported country and when the Covid-19 started in China-which is the main market of the world-it caused a shut down and that led to the delay of supplies.
Secka revealed that from the review and consultation that they did, they were assured that there are sufficient supplies in the Gambia. And that the government has also implemented a ban on the imported goods.
He informed the meeting that all the funds GCCI received are spent on the Sanatorium so far, adding that they totally rehabilitated the Sanatorium, provided all the necessary equipment and all the facilities that they require to get into operation.
“We are looking at some possible areas like Prison Service, hospital and markets,” said the GCCI senior official.
He further said they are trying to do a number of things with the government as they have already submitted proposals on how they could support those businesses. One of them is the possibility of tax exemptions, making a good foreign exchange and ensuring that employment is assured as much as possible, as he indicated.
“A lot of Gambians who are staying at home will still need to feed their families and pay for their utilities; so it’s important for the Gambian government to continue to support all its different state demands to make sure that we maintain our stability”, Secka intimated.
