The
American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) yesterday held a daylong entrepreneurship
meeting for more than 100 Gambian women entrepreneurs and business
professionals.
The
meeting at Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi was centred mainly on business and
entrepreneurship, and it provided the participants the opportunity to discuss
issues concerning their businesses.
Acting
president of AmCham, Ndey Awa Ceesay, said the meeting comes hot on the heels
of the recently-concluded democratic election in the country.
She
pointed out that with the ongoing impasse that followed the election, all
business operators are lamenting that the uncertainty is adversely affecting
their businesses.
Therefore,
she said, the meeting was a platform for the entrepreneurs to openly discuss
the constraints they are facing as the political impasse continues.
“This
platform, though not one of politics, should give us an opportunity to lend our
voice in support of the great concerns of the day, which to all intent and
purposes should advocate for peace and stability and due recognition of
democratic process,” Ms Ceesay said. “It is only through peace that business
will enjoy the conducive environment.”
The
AmCham acting president said one of the lingering concerns of the chamber is
AGOA, which has been benefiting members and non-members of AmCham.
Under
AGOA, regular shipment of containers from Gambia carrying Gambian products to
the US enjoyed preferential treatment.
This enables the exporters to generate foreign exchange which they use
to purchase goods from the US and ship back to Banjul.
“Since
its demise, this has not been the case, and the few that endured to continue in
a small way, struggled to have their shipments received on time when they
arrive and some even lose the consignment due to the longer period,” Ms Ceesay
lamented.
“In
that case, we will engage the government to ensure that some of this pertinent
issues needing urgent attention are addressed.”
The
CEO of Gaye Njorro hairdressing, Fatou Gaye-Saine, said giving the fact that
women are engaged in all sectors of development, they are arguably the movers
of the Gambian economy.
