The Gambian leader Mr. Adama Barrow has officially opened the 14th Edition of the Trade Fair Gambia International 2021, being held by Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) in conjunction with its partners.
The three weeks business exhibition, currently underway at the Independence Stadium grounds in Bakau, with the theme, “GCCI 2021 partner to progress”, also has the objective of providing a unique platform for the entrepreneurs to showcase their products.
Described as the biggest annual trade event in this country, the Trade Fair seeks to promote and support young entrepreneurs in their entrepreneurial crusade, and ensure ease to market, create networking opportunities for visibilities for small and medium enterprises and entrepreneurs.
In his remarks, President Barrow encouraged the business actors to make best use of the opportunity, and network, while wishing the participants a successful trade fair. He urged all the visitors and participants to strictly adhere to the Covid-19 measures provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Gambia’s Ministry of Health.
[The President declared as the Chief Patron of GCCI, he had “considered it especially necessary to come in person to demonstrate and express my government’s firm solidarity with the business community”.]
The 1st Vice President of the GCCI, Mr. Bubacarr Khan, told the gathering the Trade Fair is annually organized by the GCCI. He added it’s the largest and biggest exhibition event for businesses in the Gambia, and creates the platform for businesses to network. He said it also enables businesses to showcase their products and services to the public and general sales, and also an adventure for international participants to discover the country and its cultural diversity.
Khan expressed GCCI’s utmost delight with increase in women and youth participation in the fair, and in recognition of growing need to support businesses, the Chamber has partnered with the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP), to create a dedicated ‘Youth Pavilion’ at the fair, which is branded and dedicated to youth businesses.
The GCCI senior official went on to state that, through the Ministries of Works and Foreign Affairs (of The Gambia), the Government of India has pledged to start construction of world class trade fair site, at the Chamber’s Trade Fair Center in Brusubi.
He indicated that with support of the African Development Bank (AfDB), through the Inclusive Growth Promotion and Institutional Support Project (IGPISP), they have improved the “standards and quality of stalls, comparable to state-of-the-art tents used in global exhibition.
This project, the 1st VP pointed out, also supports GCCI in commissioning of A140KW solar system now used at the GCCI head office and trade fair site, to promote the use of renewable energy amongst the private sector and promote a greener and more environmentally-friendly business.
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, Mr. Ebrima Sisawo in addressing the event, acknowledged that the GCCI had been an outstanding partner to the government, in shaping the business environment, which, he intimated, had been clearly manifested by the stand and efforts made by the GCCI during the Covid pandemic.
The PS believes this year’s Trade Fair would boost the confidence of the business actors, particularly the MSMEs (Micro,Small, and Medium Enterprises), and reiterated government’s resolve to support the MSMEs, to serve as engines of growth and backbone of the economy, providing livelihoods for owners.
