A
high-level delegation of investors from Malaysia is in The Gambia to examine
the country’s investment opportunities for potential win-win business ventures
between Gambian and Malaysian entrepreneurs.
The
delegation had a vital business forum with members of the Gambian private and
public sectors on Saturday 30 July at the secretariat of the Gambia Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (GCCI) in Kerr Serign.
The
GCCI in collaboration with Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency
(GIEPA) and the Embassy of The Gambia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, facilitated
the Malaysian Business and Export Acceleration Mission to The Gambia through
the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and heads of
Malaysian businesses.
“The
mission is aimed at enhancing bilateral trade, particularly to increase exports
and explore business opportunities through collaboration, partnerships and
joint ventures with the Gambian business community,” said the GCCI.
Heads
of the Malaysian businesses participating in the mission are from sectors such
as renewable energy, power generation, organic waste management, water
treatment, road construction and construction related services, consultancy in
Islamic banking and finance, medical equipment procurement, IT and
telecommunication, oil and gas, Halal foods, beverages, and dairy products.
According
to Senior Director Ms Aureen Nonis of MATRADE - a Malaysian government business
promotion entity responsible for international outreach – the institution is
out to position Malaysia as a global competitive trading nation, through its
mission of developing and promoting Malaysia’s enterprises and export to the
world.
The
Malaysian business delegation was accompanied to The Gambia by the Malaysian
ambassador to The Gambia, Sharrina Abdullah, who is based in Dakar.
The
ambassador of The Gambia to Malaysia, Abubacarr Jah, was highly commended by
the Malaysian delegation for the role he played in getting the trade mission to
The Gambia.
Speaking
to this paper, the Chief Executive Officer of GIEPA, which promotes and
facilitates both investment, as well as export from The Gambia to the outside
the world, said the forum is important, as a meeting between Malaysian
investors and members of the Gambian private sector could yield positive
results.
“This
goes to show that the bilateral relations, as governments, between The Gambia
and Malaysia, is very good. This is because you must have good relations for
the private sector to be able to leverage on it and engage one another,” CEO
Fatou Mbenga Jallow said.
“This
also goes to show that our Embassy in Malaysia is very active, working closely
with the Malaysian embassy in Dakar in facilitating this mission, led by the
Malaysian ambassador for The Gambia based in Senegal.
“Having
the delegation here is a demonstration of the good relations we have between
the governments of The Gambia and Malaysia.”
Mrs
Jallow also said positive result is expected out of the B2B meetings and other
activities held during the forum.
“We
are optimistic. The Gambia government is an enabler really ensuring that there
is a conducive environment, and that the necessary relationships are built at
the bilateral and the multilateral level,” she said.
“It
is now for the private sector to leverage on that and be able to network and
build the relationships that are required with international businesses.
“GIEPA
and the Chamber of Commerce are here to facilitate that process. What we are
looking at is an initial engagement.”
In
his remarks on the outcome of the meeting, a lead member of the Malaysian
delegation, Seow Cheng Soon, managing director of a construction firm called Probase
Manufacturing SDN BHD, and founder president of a Malaysian business
organization called BOSS CLUB, said he is highly optimistic of a positive
outcome in business relations between The Gambia and Malaysia.
“I
can see a lot of prospects in joining together in business between Malaysian
and Gambian business people, in various sectors such as technology,
construction related services, Halal foods, beverages and dairy products.
“There
are more prospects especially that The Gambia is very peaceful,” added Mr Soon.
GCCI
vice president Baboucarr Khan in his closing remarks thanked all the business
representatives from both Malaysia and The Gambia.
“Be
assured of our support and dedication to promoting your business efforts,” he
said.
A
memorandum of understanding (MoU) between GCCI and the Malaysian-African
Professionals & Entrepreneurs (MAPE) was signed to cement the relations
between the private sectors of two countries.
MAPE,
very instrumental in realizing the business mission to The Gambia, is geared
towards helping Malaysian entrepreneurs through their African partners to build
successful and mutually rewarding business partnerships.
“We
strongly believe that MAPE will provide GCCI the platform to link up Gambian
and Malaysian entrepreneurs,” Gambia’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Abubacarr Jah,
said, adding: “As a result, we strongly recommend that GCCI and MAPE sign the
proposed MoU.”
