By Samsideen Ceesay
Information Officer, MoTIE
The Directorate of Industry and Investment at MOTIE in collaboration with the United Nations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) Thursday, 23rd December 2021, validated Made in The Gambia Strategy which was held in Senegambia.
The objective of the strategy is to reorganize and reposition the productive sector of the economy as a competitive enterprising, manufacturing and export-oriented country.
The strategy will further seek to lean and leverage other government strategic policies and build synergies around promoting the country’s industrial competitiveness to enhance the production and consumption of locally made goods and services.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Permanent Secretary at MOTIE, Mr. Hassan Gaye said with the coming into force of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), whose primary objective is to increase intra-Africa trade by 52.3 percent by 2022, a great opportunity is availed for countries to benefit from increased market access to boost their trade and grow their productive sectors. This he said can only be done by deliberately targeting the productive industries, particularly those in the manufacturing sub-sector.
“Our private sector, which is made up mainly of MSMEs is one of the most dynamic sectors with great potentials for sustained growth. Hence, my Ministry remains fully committed to providing the necessary support through policy and strategy measures such as the “Made in The Gambia Strategy” to help the private sector in positioning itself in the global economy for inclusive growth and Economic Development.”
He pointed out that the ‘Made in The Gambia Strategy’ is aimed at providing a coherent and integrated strategic lens that will guide the government and all stakeholders in the manufacturing sub-sector to deliver the development results as envisaged in the National Development Plan (NDP).
“I wish to implore each and every one of you to contribute in shaping this guiding strategy for promoting the national brand ‘Made in the Gambia’ to help achieve the aforementioned objective for our shared benefit as a country,” DPS Gaye stated.
AbdouTouray, a representative from UNDP noted that people live in a very competitive society, in order to have a positive balance of trade they need to produce to compete in the world.
He pointed out that any products they produce, they should add value to it, and they should build their capacity to be able to produce. Made in The Gambia is long overdue noting that they should be proactive towards the implementation of this important strategy.
Fabba Jammeh, Director of Industry and Investment at MOTIE, noted that the strategy is timely as it would enable them to critically look at the trading needs both nationally, regionally and internationally.
