Small
and Medium-Size Enterprise (SMEs) Friday
converged at the YMCA conference room to
establish a national association that could help them better work with the
government and the private sector lead entities such as GCCI, Gambia Public
Procurement Authority (GPPA) and GIEPA.
The
association is out to strengthen the cordial relationship between the SMEs, the
authority and the private sector to harmonise their working relationship,
especially with GCCI, GPPA and GIEPA.
The
meeting was held also to encourage all small and medium-size enterprises to
come together and discuss issues concerning their business and see how best to
address them.
Speaking
at the meeting, Edward Gomez, said since it is difficult for both the
government and the private sector to give contract to individuals as small and
medium enterprises they decided to come together under a single umbrella, and
discussed the possibilities of establishing Gambian National Association of
SMES that will be actively working closely with members of the private sector
in the country in implementing their development activities as well as to
benefit from their training.
According
to Mr Gomez, establishing the association requires the participation of all
small and medium-size enterprises to ensure more commitment and sacrifice is
put in to realise “this important association”.
For
his part, Essa Bah, a member of the SMEs and CEO of SBD printing press, thanked
the various SMEs for attending the meeting.
He
explained that the idea emanated from a training for suppliers organised by
GPPA where the suppliers were urged by GPPA to form an association that would
help them to have support from members of the private sector and the
government.
Mr
Bah thanked the GPPA for proposing the idea to form the association, saying the
members find it necessary to organise a meeting to avail themselves the
opportunity to discuss their concerns and carve a way forward.
He
said forming the association would pay dividend in the future, adding that the
objective was to ensure SMEs are considered and recognised their role in
society.
He
disclosed that the association is purely for Gambian SMES, adding that most of
the contracts are always given to foreigners, which is what they want to end.
There
are potential Gambians that deserve to be given contracts and would deliver as
expected, he said.
Also
speaking was Kebba Dem, who expressed similar sentiments, adding that this was
long overdue as Gambian business people have not been recognised in giving out
certain contracts.
