Various goods and services, both made locally and internationally, are available for sale “at reasonable prices” at the three-week trade exhibition.Western, Indian and locally-made clothes are on display as well as shoes, jewelleries, herbs and other products.
Despite the range of goods available at reasonable prices, Adam Trinn-Njie of the GCCI said: “Business is somehow slow because people are not turning up as expected.”
But she expressed optimism that the turnout will be good towards the end of the fair as people try to see the last bit of the event while some prepare for December and or Christmas festivities.
Ms Trinn-Njie said people who come to the Marche Jula will benefit not only from low prices, but will also be entertained by various artistes in the country.
Artistes like Slam G Clan, Jaliba Kuyateh, and Yusupha Ngum will all be performing live at the venue for the shopping pleasure of the people, in turns.
Meanwhile, The Point spoke to some of the exhibitors at the Marche Jula who expressed their satisfaction with the state of affairs but also called on people to come and patronise them.
Sohna Mai, an exhibitor from Ziguinchor in Southern Senegal, said this year is the first time she has attended Marche Jula.She said the organisers, the GCCI, have put in place arrangements for the satisfaction of the exhibitors save for the turnout hence she is calling on all and sundry to not allow themselves to miss the good things of the Marche Jula.
At Sohna Mai’s stall, long African dresses, ladies bags, veils and a lot more are on display.
Yusuph Ceesay from Senegal said he came with ornaments and incents from Senegal to exhibit and for sale at “cheap prices”.
Malick Bah, also from Senegal, has at his stall shoes, European dresses, suits for both men and women and other things on display.
A stall owner from Tunisia has on his stand items like incents, perfumes, tissues, and ceramics all from Tunisia.
The Tunisian exhibitor said this is his first time in The Gambia for business but it has not been “a good business experience” for now.
He said all the products in his stall are “unique and 100 per cent natural”.
Ya Fatou Njie, owner of a restaurant called ‘Big tree’, said “very delicious” fried fish, steamed fish, grilled fish, grilled chicken, fried chicken among others are available at their stand.
For Haddy Jammeh who was at the Gamtel/Gamcel stall, business is going on smoothly “but the only issue is that people are not coming in large numbers”.
She said at their stall, they have free internet access and people can operate their telephone line or ADSL application there.
Ms Jammeh said for Gamcel, they have reduced the cost of their 3G products.The 3G Dongle is now costing D1,000 while the 3G Leisure is reduced to D2,500.
Fatou Jaw, an exhibitor from Dakar, Senegal, has at her stall chains, earrings, bangles for women all made of precious stones.
Ms Jaw is a not a first-timer at the Marche Jula.She recalled the one held at the Independence Stadium in Bakau , saying “it is the best” because she made some sales.
Muslims’ holy book, the Quran, is also on display at a reasonable price.Herbs for waist ache, sexual weakness, weight loss, ulcer among others are also available.
“A visit to the Marche Jula venue at the July 22nd Square in Banjul will be beneficial to anyone who fulfills it,” Ms Trinn-Njie said.
