By Nicholas Bass
The Gambia Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Tuesday held a consultative forum with over 30 business owners to discuss with business owners how to mitigate problems.
The forum was held at the GCCI conference room in Bijilo.
Therese S. Diarra, Manager of Co-operations said at GCCI reiterated the aim of the forum which was purposely meant to discuss with the Gambia business owners how to mitigate their problems through which those who registered to the Gambia Chambers of Commerce Industry will be supported individually.
She highlighted the importance of the GCCI trade fair which aimed at exposing the products of Gambian business owners both nationally and internationally.
Ma’am Diarra disclosed their willingness to collaborate with Micro-financial Services to support Gambia business owners who are registered members of Gambia Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
Sherifoe Sankareh a business representative from Farafenni said there is no market in his community and he urged GCCI to engage the Gambian government to allow Gambian business owners to occupy the Gambian markets.
A Gambian businesswoman, Fatou Bah at Lamin Village, Kombo North in the West Coast Region, expressed the need for the Brikama Area Council to pay attention to the maintenance of public markets saying it is very risky for business owners during the rainy season, especially with old shelters.
Speaking to The Voice Newspaper in an interview, Sarata Conateh, Chief Education Officer of GCCI expressed that ‘’if you are a Chamber that does not really expand across the entire nation, you are not actually fulfilling your entire mandate ‘’.
This is what is very important to GCCI and we are constantly looking at gaps and areas where we can look into and see how best GCCI will continue to serve the general interest of the entire Gambian businesses, he stated.
She went further, G.C.C.I, is in collaboration with the Gambia Market Union to create access to markets that can improve the sales and growth of Gambian business owners.
Mr. Pa Jarjou Gassama the Chairman of the Gambia Market Union talked about the negative impact of the feasts on the trade fairs and said they would like to stop trade fairs during religious feasts.’’
He stressed that those business owners selling along the roads should see him for a place in Kanifing to avoid hindering Gambian business.
