The forum was held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre. It attracted both the national and international investors.
Rebecca Riley Bensouda, chief executive officer (CEO) for the Africa Inter-trade Investment explained that they sought to bring together investors from diverse backgrounds representing various sectors of the economy with the primary objective of creating a networking platform where foreign investors will network and discuss pertinent issues with indigenous entrepreneurs and explore partnership and investment opportunities.
She added they also aim to promote cultural exchanges to foster and trigger economic growth, national development and African integration in line with the ideals of pan-Africanism to promote African integration, cooperation and development.
She indicated that it was envisaged that the high-profile event organised for the first time to break barriers will serve as a gateway to addressing blockages of commonality and free movement that limit the potential of real economic growth of most African economies.
“The one-day high profile networking business forum will expose many local businesses to foreign investors which could trigger a yearning interest to invest and create enjoyments that could further boost the potential of such business in a win-win approach,” she mentioned.
Noureddine Bachiri, president of the Moroccan Chamber of Commerce said they came to The Gambia to complement government’s efforts in bringing about necessary development and economic growth thereby elevating the status and profile of The Gambia at the global level.
He said promoting African integration and growth through investment and cultural exchange fosters growth for an enhanced potential of African businesses as well as breaks barriers and facilitates investment but also eases the process of doing business. He added that it also engineers economic growth through concerted partnership efforts.
According to him, networking among foreign investors and local entrepreneurs attracts direct foreign investment employment and creates investment opportunities in key economic sectors.
Mr Bachiri observed that the forum brought a lot of benefits to The Gambia in terms of attracting partnership and investment opportunities.
