The biennial international trade fair organised by the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), commences on 2 through 16 February 2013 at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.
The trade fair theme this year is: ‘Expanding business opportunities for enterprises for the creation of private sector jobs’.
The event, which attracts investors and exhibitors from other parts of the world, particularly Africa, Asia and Europe, is staged to expose and promote investment opportunities in The Gambia and to develop linkages between Gambian and international businesses through Business-to-Business (B to B) meetings.
The trade fair forms part of the chamber’s drive to be the pacesetter in promoting Gambian businesses.
According to information from the GCCI secretariat, the objectives of this year’s trade fair include promoting the creation and growth of sustainable green enterprises, providing networking opportunities for local enterprises with businesses at the international level, facilitating public private partnerships, championing the creation of private sector jobs, promoting the exportation of ‘Made in The Gambia’ products and services, increasing inter-regional trade, and highlighting investment opportunities in The Gambia.
The fair will feature exhibition of products by the private sector and the public sector as well as by international businesses.
There will also be a business forum on public-private partnerships, as well as what is called ‘My Day of Business’, a forum for demonstration of business products.
“It is expected that the trade fair will attract the Gambian public and also visitors from the ECOWAS sub-region,” said Beatrice A. Prom, GCCI public relations manager, who is also in charge of coordinating the fair.
She said the visitors to the trade fair include businessmen and women, government officials, investors, tourists, and consumers.
Individuals and institutions that will exhibit their various products and services will largely come from agricultural enterprises, banking and financial services, clothing industry, construction industry, international businesses, manufacturing industry, non-governmental associations, pharmaceutical industry, public enterprises and other sectors.
Along the biennial event, ‘Made in The Gambia’ Wood Exhibition will be organised by the Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GiEPA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Employment and the GCCI at the same venue.
The objectives of the wood exhibition are to raise awareness about locally made wood products and in the process create market opportunities for producers to unleash their potentials.
The primary functions of the GCCI are provision of essential business services to the private sector in general and its members, in particular, as well as giving business advice and influencing government in creating an environment conducive for business to thrive in the country.
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