By Mariam Williams
The 2nd Edition of Gambia’s Good market has been launched by Youth Empowerment Project (YEP), in conjunction with Association of Small Scale Enterprises in Responsible Tourism (ASSERT), during a ceremony held at the Petroleum House in Brusubi.
Mr. Ebrima Ceesay from ASSERT, speaking at the launch event, reported that the Association of Small Scale Enterprises in Responsible Tourism (ASSERT) was established in early 2000 to bring together small businesses, organisations and associations to trade fairly and pursue responsible and sustainable business practices.
According to him, ASSERT’s objective is to build a value chain in the tourism industry, provide a visible Gambian tourism sector and promote responsible and sustainable tourism service providers.
“We are all gathered here today to witness the official launching of the second edition of the Gambia’s Good Market. As all of us may know, the GGM is as a result of a partnership between the Association of Small Scale Enterprises in Responsible Tourism and the Youth Empowerment Project,” Ceesay explained.
He added that Gambia’s Good Market (GGM) is a platform to showcase and provide point of sale to entrepreneurs based in The Gambia who are selling high quality and locally made products and services, including natural health and beauty products, arts and crafts, fashion and accessories, agricultural produce and other foods and beverages.
“With YEP’s support, vendors have received trainings in standards, entrepreneurship, branding and packaging to improve the standard of their products and their appeal to the tourists, expatriates and local markets in The Gambia,” he added.
The focus to this point has largely been on logistical matters, marketing and bringing products up to standard.
In its second season (starting Autumn 2019), the market will aim to improve its marketing, expand the number of stalls, improve the catering provision and demand greater attention to the sustainability of products.
Ms. Ngoneh Panneh, Adviser of Tourism and Creative Industries at YEP, said under the implementation of the ASSERT in partnership with YEP, the market directly supported over 50 youth entrepreneurs from 2018 -2019, in areas of training,market access, study tours, product development, capacity building, and visibility with a consistent monthly platform for entrepreneurs to exhibit and sell their products.
Gambia Tourism Board (GTB) Product Development Officer, Ms. Binta Gassama, highlighted her institution’s mandate on tourism in the Gambia.
She informed that their mandate is to promote The Gambia as a vibrant tourism destination; make the Gambia a tourist paradise and also a major tourist destination.
She hailed the initiative of the Gambia’s Good Market, which is working hard to complement the efforts of the Gambia Tourism Board, and as well as in making sure that the Gambia is a tourism paradise.
Ms. Maimuna Jahateh, founder of Maimunas Skin and Hair Care Product, applauded YEP and ASSERT for the platform, recalling that the Gambia’s Good Market last year, has given them a great platform to showcase their products. That, she added, has created visibility for young Gambian businesses, noting that marketing and visibility are very important for businesses to grow and develop.
The proprietor of Maimunas Skin and Hair Care Product, therefore, urged stakeholders to provide them with expertise, and people who are willing to buy Gambian businesses.
