Minister Baboucarr Ousmaila Joof, while speaking to the members of the press who accompanied him on the tour, said: “I feel proud of being a Gambian and I think that is the thing we need to support. The government in whatever forms will make sure it supports the local or domestic producers and create jobs.”
Minister Joof described the visit as another great day that signals a lot to him in terms of the potential to create jobs in this country and also to address food security. “Because a lot of what we eat is connected to flour which we know the raw materials are not available in the country yet.”
The minister emphasised that he refused to give up the possibility of the national research institute coming up with appropriate soil and condition to enable the country to grow wheat.
More so, the minister dilated on the last 12 months' activities across the world which include the geopolitical situation in Russia-Ukraine, and said it has taught the country the need to look up alternative options “knowing that 60 to 70 percent of our food in this country comes from flour. I think that’s one thing we need to look into as government.”
He therefore assured that the two existing milling companies visited have the potential to provide the flour required throughout the country, while discussing the issues of price and shipping conditions during the visit.
The Trade minister and his delegate on day two of his tour, visited the Weight and Measure Department, GMC and Nessim Trading (also flour mill) all in Banjul and had a side meeting with senior officials of each institution.
In turn, each institution tabled its constraints while the minister and team assured of solutions, as the tour continues.
