The
ECOWAS Standards Harmonisation (ECOSHAM), in partnership with the Gambia
Standards Bureau, has organised a three-day meeting opened on Monday at the
Paradise Suites Hotel.
Speaking
on the occasion, director of industry at the ECOWAS Commission, Mensan
Lawsen-Hechelli, said ECOWAS has adopted 50 national standards so far.
“The
ECOWAS Commission has put in a system of harmonisation of standards between
member states which ensures that there are no specific standards for individual
members states, but a single and common standard for each good or service
exchanged,” he said.
The
minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, Abdou Jobe,
said The Gambia government has always been and continues to be committed to the
ideals and vision of ECOWAS.
He
said the role of harmonised standards and conformity assessment requirements
cannot be overemphasised because harmonised standards for the sub-region for
essential goods and services is key to the smooth realisation of a common
market.
ECOSHAM
Chairman Sheikh Ahmet Tejan Nyang said The Gambia is one of the leading tourism
destinations in the sub-region and has over the years developed and implemented
a number of sustainable projects all geared towards the improvement of
livelihood of its people.
He
said the tourism sector contributes between 18 to 20 per cent of the country’s
gross domestic product, and creates both direct and indirect employment for
thousands of Gambians and non-Gambians.
“The
Gambia has over the years build up her human resource base in the tourism
sector up to the extent that it is now exporting her highly qualified and
skilled personnel to both the sub-region and the Middle East,” Mr Nyang said.
He
further noted that the meeting has come at a time The Gambia is reviewing its
hotel classification system and also working on the policy of advocating for
quality hotel beds with the view to meet the demand of its clientele.
