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Speaking at the opening forum, the project coordinator of the ECOWAS Trade Negotiation Capacity Building Project, Mr. Dougler Zumelo, expressed his gratitude to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Employment for his prompt and positive response to their request to come to The Gambia to undertake this exercise on improving trade policy decision making.
He said that institutions, academic and civil society will assist the ministry through their participation to facilitate holistic policy decision making. He noted that the objective is that the committee will provide the forum for trade related issues to be discussed by all stakeholders who will advise the Ministry of Trade before action are taken to them to ensure that the interests of all sections of society are taken into account in the implementation of policy.
This, he said, will lead to public ownership of trade policy and therefore an enhancement of food governance. He added that the ECOWAS Trade negotiation capacity building project is supported by the Economic Community of West African States and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency has been a keen supporter of the ECOWAS Trade negotiation capacity building project since its inception in 2003 and has contributed in increasing the level of assistance to the project.
He said the private sector and civil society will be more involved in making suggestion on how regional integration can be achieved as they share their experience and bring their problems, with regional trade to the table for solution to be found for them.
Other speakers included the Permanent Secretary for Trade, Industry and Employment, Mrs Naffie Barry.
