By Nyima Sillah
Gambia Chamber of Commerce and industry on Tuesday commenced a two-day entrepreneurial forum that seeks to provide effective platforms for entrepreneurs to connect with investors and service providers.
It also seeks to improve collaboration and promotion on innovative entrepreneurship amongst various educational institutions.
GCCI business development officer, Modou Njie who spoke at the event at Metzy hotel said the industry has experienced a surging increase in start-up enterprises after the political impasse especially in micro business.
“One of the reasons for this sudden growth could be attributed to the change in government, thereby giving potential entrepreneurs the confidence to start their own enterprises, “he said.
Some of these entrepreneurs have been operating on a low or informal manner prior to the impasses but the change in system coupled with the new business support structures and projects such as the YEP, IOM ,Mr Njie added.
He said this has given entrepreneurs a renewed hope of being able to occupy a niche in the market through the introduction of innovative products.
GCCI Board Member Oumie Sise said GCCI serve as secretariat for the chapter and overseer direct and coordinate the overall activities of the chapter, adding “function of the start-up ambassadors is to promote the existence of the association and its activities on social media, networking sessions or any business related event.
According to her, mentoring of chapter members through the provision of innovative insight with the group with the objective of improving the activities of this initiative.
She said the visibility of the start-up enterprises by acting as a key information point about start-up activities or by connecting the SE with relevant stakeholders from their local start-up field.
