Alieu
Secka, chief executive officer (CEO) of Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(GCCI) has pointed that the dominance of foreigners in the import/export sector
of the country is the result of lack of capital for indigenous Gambian
businessmen and women to compete.
He
however observed that this trend would change sooner rather than later as more
indigenes participate in the market.
CEO
Secka made this revelation at his office at Bijilo as GCCI organised an open
day session for journalists and the business community relative to the upcoming
Gambia International Trade Fair slated for 21 March to 12 April, 2020, at the
Independence Stadium in Bakau.
“The
International investors are welcome but we just wanted a level playing field
for everyone. We also want particular support for local businessmen as their
biggest constraint is lack of capital. The issue of access to capital also
determines how big and how fast you can go and for a long time this is the
biggest constraint for indigenous businessmen,” he noted.
He
added that they recognised that The Gambia is not an island, as there is need
for some international investors that have come to participate and playing
their roles in national development. But, he further noted, the Gambian
business sector needs support in terms of access to capital to be able to
compete in the import/export sector.
Secka
said GCCI is doing everything possible to promote local content and local
participation in the import/export sector, adding that as of now more
indigenous businesses are increasingly participating and doing extremely well
in this domain.
“I
can name a lot of Gambian Entrepreneurs that can compete with anyone not only
in the region but even worldwide like Taf Africa Global which is doing
extremely well as far as the participation of indigenous businessmen is
concerned.”
According
to him, GCCI will continue to engage Gambia government and all stakeholders in
their efforts in facilitating access to capital for indigenous businessmen.
He
said GCCI will also continue to engage indigenous businessmen on matters
relating to customer care, capacity building, market access and taxation on day
to day basis.
He
called on businessmen to honour and respect their relationships with customers,
urging that businessmen must strive to nurture the good relationships they have
with their customers and such relationship should never be abused.
