The
Gambia Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture and Employers’ Association
(GCCI) is anticipating a booming trade fair this year, which is to commence on
15 April.
GCCI
CEO Alieu Secka, in an interview with The Point newspaper, said they are not
going to spill the beans, but this year will be one of a kind.
He
said they have received tremendous interest, both locally and internationally,
adding that they will also be hosting the Senegalese Kaolack Chamber of
Commerce.
“We
will have lots of participants in Senegal from different sectors, likewise from
The Gambia too,” he said.
All
this would be attractive to both families, businesses and individuals, which
would be very interesting, he explained.
Mr
Secka remarked that they have one of the best countries to collaborate with,
and that’ is Senegal, specifically in the new dispensation, which is warming up
relations between the two countries.
“I
think this is a celebration of that fraternity, because they will bring along
essential products of interest to The Gambia,” the GCCI CEO said.
He
added that they are of the belief that CCBM, which is the holding company of
the President Union of the Chamber of Commerce in Senegal, will come in a big
way to participate in The Gambia’s International Trade Fair.
“We
do not want to spill the beans, maybe we will leave that as a surprise to show
how big this trade fair will be,” he emphasised.
CEO
Secka said last year they involved agri-business as a bridge to show its
significance, adding that the GCCI is an exclusive chamber that involves the
whole Gambia and representing trade and commerce, agriculture, and Industry.
“We
are particularly pleased that together we have several projects in agriculture
that promotes countrywide agriculture and agric-business that partner with us,”
he said.
Mr
Secka concluded by saying that they have trust working with those projects
pioneered by agriculture-related organisations to bring in farmers, the
womenfolk to participate in a big way in the Trade Fair International 2017, as
usual, to showcase local produce and to promote home-grown goods.
Mrs
Beatrice Mboge, Supervisor of the Trade Fair, highlighted the constraints they
encounter during such times, pointing out that publicising the event costs a
lot of money.
She
appealed to those who are interested to come and pay for their stalls in time,
stating that this time around the number of stalls booked is what will be
built.
She
noted that last year the response they received was overwhelming and pleasing.
“We doubt if we can accommodate anybody that comes late to book for a stall,”
she said.
Mrs
Mboge highlighted her expectations in the turnout of the general public, saying
this year is GCCI’s 50th anniversary, which will be an extraordinary event both
for them and nation, especially the business community.
She,
therefore, appealed to the Gambian people to participate in the forthcoming
trade fair, which serves as a tool to attract foreign investment into The
Gambia.
