The initiative is part of the ongoing EU-funded Youth Empowerment Project (YEP).
The event, held at a hotel in Kololi, brought together key stakeholders to align efforts for the effective implementation of the 2025 project roadmap.
The ITC— a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization— is dedicated to strengthening the export capacities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing and transitional economies. Its work supports the “Aid for Trade” initiative and focuses on promoting inclusive, sustainable growth. ITC’s mandate covers all developing and transitioning nations, with particular emphasis on Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS), fragile states, and sub-Saharan Africa.
Currently, the ITC is implementing the EU-funded YEP to revitalise The Gambia’s tourism and creative sectors. With a 56-month implementation timeframe, the project is funded by the European Union and coordinated in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment (MoTIE) and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture (MoTC).
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mrs Lumana Kanash, EU Representative to The Gambia, underscored the importance of coordination and partnerships in fostering private sector growth and creating an enabling business climate.
“Our support programmes strongly prioritise multi-stakeholder coordination,” she said. “By enhancing collaboration, building partnerships, and encouraging information-sharing, we can deliver scalable, inclusive development.”
Mrs Kanash welcomed the reactivation of the MSME Core Team under YEP, implemented jointly with ITC, MoTIE, and MoTC. She described the platform as a crucial step towards promoting innovation and cross-sector collaboration for MSME growth.
“Although competition for resources persists, genuine progress occurs when we break institutional silos and unite,” she added. “Strategic partnerships reduce duplication, maximise impact, and ensure that support reaches those most in need.”
She also endorsed the launch of the Andandorr Framework, which will guide project implementation, beneficiary selection, partner engagement, and institutional capacity-building.
Also addressing the gathering, Mr Mod A.K. Secka, Permanent Secretary at MoTIE, hailed the event as a major milestone in transforming The Gambia’s tourism and creative sectors.
He recalled that the EU YEP was officially inaugurated by President Adama Barrow on 17 April 2025, during the maiden session of the project’s steering committee. That meeting also approved the creation of the MSME Entrepreneurship Core Team and other technical units to drive the project throughout its lifecycle.
