Gambia
Growth and Competiveness Project (GCP) under the Ministry of Trade, Regional
Integration and Employment, on Tuesday conveyed a daylong sensitization and
training workshop on the new single window business registry for The Gambia at
the Kairaba Beach Hotel in Kololi.
In declaring the forum open on behalf of the minister of Justice, Lamin Touray said that under the GCP project there is a component that deals with the Business Environmental Reform Programmes.
According to him, The Gambia has consistently scored favourably in the World Bank Doing Business Report published annually.
“The Gambia under the PRSP, 2007-2011 has resolved to reform the business environment and private investment. It therefore sought support from the World Bank to strengthen the competiveness of key economic sectors,” he said.
The GCP, he noted, was designed to support pillar 11 of the PRSP, which is the promotion of growth and employment through private sector development.
“The first component of GCP is to improve the business environment and a sub-component is to reduce the cost and delay of business entry; that is how expensive and the length of time it takes to register a business, obtain Tax Identification, register for social security with regard to employees, and apply for a Trade Licence.”
He also asserted that the Single Window Business Registration Committee was established and chaired by the Ministry of Justice, whose good work and commitment contributed to bringing the forum to fruition.
Mr Touray stated further that presently the Company and Business Registry is operating manually, but with the setting up of the Single Window Business Registry System, the registry would be computerised automated and starting businesses would be less cost-effective.
According to him, in April 2011 the ministries of Justice and Finance and Economic Affairs, Gambia Revenue Authority, Banjul CityCouncil, Kanifing Municipal Council and GCPsigned a MoU whereby they all agreed to collaborate and work together to achieve the objectives of the GCP.
In doing so, he said, they agreed to join efforts and resources to simplify, streamline and automate the business registry framework of The Gambia through legal, institutional administration and ICT reform.
The Attorney General Chambers and the Ministry of Justice being the host and chair for the implementation of the Single Window Business Registry have already provided an office space and will continue to provide all necessary support for the smooth, timely and efficient implementation of the system, he said.
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