The
Association of Small Scale Enterprises in Responsible Tourism (ASSERT) in
partnership with the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP), Saturday launched the
second edition of The Gambia’s Good Market.
The
launching and selling point of The Gambia’s Good Market where people can buy
quality products produced by Gambian youths was at the front of Petroleum
House, Brusubi Turntable.
Gambia’s
Good Market is a platform meant to create sustainable tourism product and it
features varieties of locally made products produced by young Gambian
entrepreneurs that are into fashion, arts and crafts, health and beauty
products, accessories, agro processed products and local food among others.
It
targets to create employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for Gambian
youth and to offer tourists, expatriates and locals remarkable collection of
quality products.
Since
it is a platform featuring varieties of locally products produced by young
Gambian entrepreneurs, the items on display include locally made tie and dye
fabrics, bags, necklaces, beads, bead bags, organic creams and soaps, bangles,
designer fabric shoes/slippers, locally made drinks like baobab, wonjo, honey,
and different cuisines.
In
his opening remarks, Momodou Secka, General Manager of ASSERT said most of the
materials displayed in the market were locally sourced materials, which aimed
to create employment for youths. He noted that the exhibition and sales
platform will take place every first Saturday of every month starting from 2nd
November onward till May 2020.
He
said the include youth entrepreneurs engaged in natural health and beauty, arts
and crafts, fashion and accessories and agro products.
The
ASSERT General Manager however called on everyone to patronize the Gambia’s
Good Market as it last and as well help youths to contribute their quota in
socio economic development through product development and employment creation.
Ngonneh
Paneh, Tourism Consultant for YEP said their project is funded by the European
Union and implemented by the International Trade Center, in partnership with
the Ministries of Trade and Youth and Sports, looking into three priority
sectors including agro processing and nuts, ICT, Tourism and recently creative
industry.
She
noted that tourism in particular is a sector that has border that is able to
support economic, contribute immensely to employment creation, contribute to
the GDP and infrastructural development.
She
said The Gambia’s Good Market is one of the initiatives that aim to create
sustainable tourism products, securing the rights of locally made products by
Gambian youths in fashion, agro processing, arts and crafts, health and beauty,
local foods and complimentary services activities under the creative and
demonstrative arts.
