Gambia
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), yesterday commenced a two-day forum on
the first edition of the national start-up for entrepreneurs in The Gambia.
The
forum seeks to empower start-ups to boost and connect entrepreneurs in local
and international markets.
Oumie
Sise Sallah, chairperson of the start- up chapter committee said the event
brought together enthusiastic efforts of youths and entrepreneurs to set up
businesses, create improved livelihoods and contribute to the global community
and the social economic development of The Gambia.
She
said the fundamental legal requirement of starting a business includes
registering with the GCCI and other associations which she believes have the
potential to open up access to capacity building opportunities, finance and
other linkages.
She
urged participants to register their businesses to have access to opportunities
and new dimensions. “A substantial number of start-ups have been registered
within a decade and a significant percentage of these start- ups are youth and
women,” she said.
She
said GCCI has lots of available recourses in the forms of information, links to
capacity building recourses, business advisory and connection networks.
“Support have undoubtedly been made in guiding and aiding the growth of
start-ups in the last few years.”
Madam
Sallah also urged participants to make the two days forum an interactive
learning and self-building point for each other.
Modou
Njie, a member of the GCCI start-up chapter said networking and peer review of
products and services is very essential hence the knowledge or resources shared
on any relevant or business information could help start-ups build significant
linkages. “Part of the objectives of the chapter is to improve collaboration
amongst members,” he said.
While
sharing the experience of his ‘start-up journey’ founder of Tropingo Foods,
Monaar Taal, said 77% of the people are
in to business but yet still undeveloped.
“For
entrepreneurs to attract more customers, they need to be actively involved in
business. Be curious, and don’t be lazy, that is how you find your customers,”
he said.
He
further urged the entrepreneurs to be honest, saying that can help greatly in
the growth of a business can open door ways to better opportunities. “Empower
others. It helps you get more power,” Taal said, adding that start-ups should
continue the struggle as there is no successful business without struggles.
Gambia
Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a voluntary private sector organization
whose membership is made up of companies from all sectors of The Gambia
business. It was founded in 1967 as a result of the union between the Gambia
employer’s organization and the Bathurst (now Banjul) chamber.
