Twelve
young men and women were recently certified as Empretec national trainers after
completing a two-year assessment process.
The
primary objective of the Empretec project is to unleash the growth potential of
micro and small-scale enterprises, provide a comprehensive range of business
advisory services, among others.
Speaking
on the occasion, Anna Wadda-Taal of the Ministry of Trade and Employment, said
the event was “a historic moment” in the advancement of entrepreneurship
development in The Gambia.
She
said the Empretec model seeks to introduce and propagate the use of
entrepreneurial insight and skills that will transform economic activities to
stimulate economic growth, create employment opportunities, reduce poverty and
lay a foundation for a sustainable and all inclusive industrial development.
Abdoulie
Jallow, chairman of the project steering committee of EMPRETEC Gambia, said the
successes registered so far under the project have been tangible and impactful.
More
than 1,100 Gambians have been trained and the project has a special focus on
youth and women, most of whom have undergone a high degree of transformation to
take charge of their economic destinies by becoming entrepreneurs.
Ade
Mamongane Lekoetje, UNDP country representative, said the primary objective of
the project is to unleash the growth potential of micro and small-scale
enterprises. It also seeks to bring
transformational change in entrepreneurial skills training and to provide a
comprehensive range of business advisory services.
She
explained that Empretec Ghana and UNCTAD has worked with GIEPA to register
giant successes in all the four components of the project including
strengthening the institutional capacity of GIEPA on enterprises development.