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.
