The theme for this year’s awards dinner, which will be held on 2 May, in respect of last year’s performance by companies and entrepreneurs is: “Building Partnerships”.
Since its inception in 1987, the Gambia Business Awards (GBAs) have been out to recognize excellence for remarkable performance of enterprises in the business sector; create room for competition among businesses; promote best business practices and ensure a level-playing field for all businesses; strengthen the VOICE of the Business Community through the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and form and celebrate partnerships.
Emphasizing the objectives of the awards, GCCI Business Development Manager Sarata Conateh said the objectives of the awards serve as attainable goals for the GCCI, who will continue to monitor and ensure they are achieved.
“To achieve each objective, we wish to encourage the participation and support of the business community through encouragement of best practices in business, improvements in quality and standards in business, and improvements in capacity building,” she said.
Awards
Awards for this year’s GBA will include Telecommunications Company of the Year, Enterprise of the Year, Partner to the Business Community, Bank of the Year, Manufacturing Company of the Year, Start-up of the Year, and Insurance Company of the Year.
In addition to the above, new awards will be introduced to cover some other vital sectors of the economy. These include Best Innovative Product of the Year, Best Selling Product of the Year and Employer of the Year.
Award Process
To find out the relevance of GCCI Awards and the level of interest from the Business Community, a short and efficient telephone survey will be conducted by the Chamber involving economic operators from various sectors.
Furthermore the Chamber will establish a Business Award Council of impeccable characters or members to restore credibility and confidence in the conduct of the award process. The Council’s mandate will range from developing award criteria to determining a list of possible nominees and identifying the final winner for each category, with presentation of certificates to awardees.
“To enhance credibility and relevance of the awards, GCCI wishes to review and re-design award criteria for every award category reflecting the leading sectors in the business community, by involving the active participation of key players in the sectors,” GCCI Business Development Manager said.
“For example, for the ‘Bank of the Year’ award the GCCI will invite bank officials and the Bankers Association to take part in the formulation of award criteria for their award and finally endorse the criteria which will then be posted on the GCCI website for public consumption.”
To further improve efficiency in award process, Mrs Conateh states, the GCCI is currently in the process of conducting a study to assess the impact the GCCI awards have had on the competitiveness of businesses in the country.
She says: “We want to ascertain and subsequently share with the public that the awards, given out since 1987, can be influential, raise your competitiveness and elevate your business profile and prominence.”
Marketing and Publicity
In line with this year’s theme and to boost marketing, the Chamber will introduce services and events such asinvitation of an eminent speaker to provide expert advisory address on partnerships; showcasing relevant case studies or success stories on partnerships; promotion of public-private partnerships; launching of the Council of Business Leaders; launching of the Council of GCCI Past Presidents; presentation of past winners’ stories as Awardees: ‘where are they now’, in marketing packages; and informing members that part of the proceeds will go towards construction of GCCI Trade Fair Centre.
The Gambia Business Awards (GBAs) are a national, all-encompassing awards programme honouring organizations that demonstrate the core values of business excellence, product excellence, sustainability and commercial success in their respective industries.
Conducted annually since 1987, the GBAs honour Gambia’s industry leaders through the acknowledgment of innovative business processes, product development, enterprise sustainability and overall business success.
The Awards also recognize the important social and environmental contributions made by organizations through excellence of service, commitment to their customers, philanthropic ideals, ethical behaviour and environmental sustainability.
The Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) as the recognized interface between the Government and Business Community of The Gambia is a 46-year-old organization that has served a diverse community through the provision of services.
The GCCI provides to its membership such services as advocacy, training, industrial labour relations, promotion of Gambian businesses, organizing national and international trade fairs, coordinating trade missions, establishment of business incubation centre, providing business information services, and facilitating business networking.
