Abass
Bah, the general manager at National Enterprise Development Initiative (NEDI)
has said that policy should be put in place to promote local products in the
market.
Mr.
Bah was speaking at his office on Friday as he received members of the National
Assembly Select Committee on Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports as part
of their visit to institutions under their purview.
He
said his office has provided a policy that guides the youth in their businesses
so that they can have the market value for their products. He added that they
are having challenges in the market because there is no policy in place that
will promote local products in market.
“We
trained 50 women on rice value chain in Central River Region (CRR) and similar
training was also conducted at West Coast Region (WCR) and Upper River Region
(URR) with 75 women in both Regions and there is no market for them,” he added.
He
said NEDI’s objective is to support and nurture youth entrepreneurs and start
up enterprises. They also assist youth and youth enterprises in developing
bankable business plans and effectively utilize the available opportunities
online and offline. He added that NEDI has promoted awareness on the existing
opportunities or potential in The Gambia to address youth irregular migration.
Mr.
Bah called on the select committee through the Ministry Youth and Sports to
help them with mobility and a headquarters where they will train young people
on entrepreneurial skills.
Mustapha
Badjie, the programme officer at NEDI, stated that they have trained young
entrepreneurs across the country and all those people have set up their own
business in their respective regions. He, however, pointed that they are facing
challenges in terms of the market and thus urged government to do something
about it so as to support our young people in the business sectors.
Momodou
Camara, the National Assembly Member for Foni Bantang commended NEDI for the
good work they are doing for the Gambian youth. He gave assurance that the
select committee would find a way out about the market challenges the young
entrepreneurs are facing.
