Photo: Members of GCCI on the high table. 

GCCI and Collaborators launch 14 Edition of Annual Trade Fair

By Ousman A. Marong

The Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) in partnership with  YEP, KONRAD, and GIZ  Gambia has on yesterday 16 January 2020 launched the 14th edition of the annual trade fair Gambia international, slated to take place from 21 March to 12 April 2020.

The theme for this year’s edition is "GCC 2020-partner to progress." The annual trade fair aimed to promote and support the entrepreneurship industry.

It is also to ensure the ease and access to market by creating networking opportunities and visibility for small and medium entrepreneurs.

Bajara Jabbie, Chairman Trade fair Gambia International 2020 (TFGI) said “GCCI support youth and women empowerment by creating an avenue of development for them and also to create business opportunities for young entrepreneurs.”

He revealed that the last figures from the private sector Development Strategy has shown that small and Medium Enterprises constitute over 90 percent of the Gambia Business Community.

He added that SMEs contribute to the creation of jobs thereby reducing unemployment,

“The previous Trade Fair saw over sixty thousand visitors within three weeks and we expect a surge in visits in the upcoming edition. We expect to record over 450 participants including participants from the ECOWAS region and Asia,” he remarked.

He is hopeful that this year’s 2020 Trade Fair be a successful one adding this year’s Trade Fair will be bigger and better.

He stated that stalls will be allocated base on first come first serve while urging members of TFGI to do their payment at any nearest Guaranty Trust Bank branches.

  Alieu Secka, GCCI chief executive officer said they (GCCI) do not increase the prices of stalls for the past four years.

His remarks came at a time some vendors questioned about the high cost of rented stalls.

“The commerce industry is working tirelessly to make sure that people and their properties are secured,” he asserted.

He unveils GCCI’S plans in extending the trade fairs to Farafenni, Soma, Basse, and Brikamabaa before the end of the year.  “We (GCCI) will decentralize the Trade Fair so that it will not be regarded as Banjul Chamber of commerce only but the Gambia chamber of commerce.”

In her part, Sarata Conateh, director of business development lamented that one of the greatest challenges they are face with is the mindset of the exhibitors whom she said are with the habit of tending to believe that the trade fair is a money-making venture.

She said a trade fair is a place where people go to exhibit in order to be known by showcasing their talents and ideas on how to improve on their product and services.