By Binta Jaiteh
The Ministry of Trade Integration and Employment has held its annual work plan and strategy retreat for the 2022 legislative year at Metzy Resorts, Kotu.
Speaking at the programme, Seedy Keita, Minister of Trade, Integration and Employment advised the ministry’s staff not to be complacent, as they should work hard to reach a higher level.
He said, “The trade directorate was setup to tackle the issue of basic commodities which he therefore looking forward to the presentation of the directorate on measures and strategies they will put in place so that the emergent contingent in price will be dealt with as a Ministry and a country as a whole.”
Ebrima Sisawo, Permanent Secretary at MOTIE said: “this is a retreat where we have opportunities to review our work plan and take stock of the progress that we have made in the implementation of our work plan with gaps and challenges.”
According to him, the retreat was used to discuss some of the challenges they face in the operation as a sector and Ministry which they used the opportunity to come up with recommendations that will guide and facilitate their work.
Abdoulie Jammeh, deputy permanent secretary at MOTIE described the retreat as very important which contained a lot of information.
“Once you plan ahead is like achieving 50% of your work plan, as a sector we should remind ourselves of our mandate and know this is done by MOTIE. As a sector our task is to create an enabling environment and allow the private sector to lead, this is very important. Whatever we do we try to create a decent job for the market,” he said.
He therefore encouraged the staff of been conscious of the working environment in terms of the emerging issues they found themselves and importantly the regional integration. “It is no longer a secret that Africa is becoming the biggest creating block and The Gambia should try to situate themselves in that reality. “So, having this continental free trade which bring a cooperation of 1.3 billion people and combine of 3.4 billion, that has put Africa in a competitive state compare to China and India in terms of potential,” he added.
