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UK national sees ‘huge potentials’ in Gambia for rapid development

Aug 8, 2016, 10:40 AM | Article By: Lamin Jahateh

Lloyd Morgan, a British national who intends to live and invest in The Gambia, has seen the country as “the most highly organised” smallest of all mainland African countries, with huge potentials for development.

The UK national, who is presently in The Gambia for the third time, said the country is among the places in Africa for corporations, world markets and growing economists to expand into for the country’s stability, peace and growth prospects.

Mr Morgan said in addition to The Gambia’s asset of stability, peace and growth potentials, the country needs few touches to make it even a greater destination for investment.

“The Gambia should build strong relations with neighbouring countries to build trade routes and create a larger workforce,” he said, adding that a new, powerful economy could be developed by replacing the Gambian currency, the Dalasi, with the ACE - African Central Economy. One hundred dalasis could be one ACE.

He further noted that it is high time Gambian families and individuals were taught to produce a business plan and on bookkeeping, and that those that produce good business plans could be offered grants and land to set up their own businesses.

The potential investor said the national broadcaster, GRTS, could also come up with a programme dubbed Gambia Got Talent, to showcase the talents of Gambians to the world at large. 

“This could help The Gambia to soon find its most talented citizens in sport and education,” he said.

The UK national said The Gambia has huge potentials to manufacture and produce goods for export, and should do more to make this potential a reality. 

In this vein, he said vehicle manufacturers could be encouraged to manufacture cars in The Gambia. 

He further disclosed that already one company, Afri-Car, is working on that path as the growth potential in The Gambia, as in other emerging markets, remains “substantial”. 

Africa, he said, is the next attractive continent for vehicle manufacturers to move into in a big way, because of its huge growth potential.

In this new found interest by car manufacturers and other potential investors, Mr Morgan says, The Gambia is one of the best places for such investment, considering the country’s massive growth potential, its peace and security.

On education, the Loughborough University graduate in banking and finance said all the schools and universities in the country could be twinned with top foreign colleges to consolidate academic and professional courses, and to organise student exchanges to increase standards of the domestic learning institutions.

“All Gambians above working age could be awarded honorary degrees in social and cultural studies,” he said. 

Mr Morgan said black people of the world could be encouraged to come to The Gambia to find their lost tribe, rebuilding links worldwide.

A new world trade centre could be built in The Gambia for international trade commerce, and to protect such a growing economy the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) could be renamed the Black Watch.

The Black Watch would be made up of Royal Gambian commandos trained by British Royal marine commandos.

“The Black Watch could have brought back the 200 Nigerian girls [kidnapped by Boko Haram] at $1 million per girl, boosting the Gambian economy and gaining worldwide recognition and support,” he said.

“The Royal Gambian commandos could be given further training and experience by helping Park Rangers to protect precious African wildlife, hunted by professional bushman poachers,” he added.