Voice of Business

Kerr Jula, Bertil Harding Highway, Bijilo

West Coast Region

Tel: 4463452/4463152-Email: info@gcci.gm

P.O. Box: 333, Banjul, www.gcci.gm

November/December 2015 e-bulletin

I wish to bring you

all New Year greet-

ings. As we contin-

ue to disseminate

information and

knowledge that

would add value,

efficiency, and effectiveness to the operations

and profits of businesses, I present highlights

of GCCI key activities in 2015.

Our theme for 2015 and 2016 is ‘Supporting

Sustainable Enterprises’. Becoming a sus-

tainable enterprise entails using technology to

maximise efficiency within business opera-

tions. GCCI moved from the manualy issuing

certificates of origin to a systemised and so-

phisticated approach which has greatly im-

proved turnaround time. Also as part of its

transformation processes, GCCI developed an

application which provides news, updates of

activities, GCCI membership data base, etc. at

the fingertips of users. Please download the

App from your Android or Apple stores for free.

In addition, as part of our drive to promote and

increase exposure of Gambian businesses

locally and internationally, the GCCI will pub-

lish its 2015/2016 Business Directory.

GCCI initiated the “membership month” and

launched it in April. this outreach programme

was primarily geared towards all GCCI Board

and Staff visiting members in order to collect

information. 238 members were visited. The

GCCI Membership Committee was set up in

April. The “Japaleh

Jula” Membership at GCCI was also launched

early 2015.

We have just concluded the 9th edition of the

trade fair from19th December 2015 – 10th

January 2016, in response to requests by

vendors, on the theme “Promoting PPP for

National Development”. The 8th edition of The

Trade Fair Gambia International was conduct-

ed from the 7th March to 22nd March 2015 on

the theme “supporting sustainable Enterpris-

es”: The Gambia @50. Similarly, GCCI in

collaboration with the Mall of the Gambia or-

ganised a Tobaski Sale in September to cre-

ate a platform for indigenous businesses to

showcase and sell their products.

In 2015 GCCI organised five business forums

in collaboration with its partners to provide a

platform for discussion of pertinent issues

between the private sector players and Gov-

ernment. Stakeholder Consultative Meetings

and B2Bs were also organized. GCCI ar-

ranged for the IMF mission to meet its mem-

bers on two separate occasions in order to

discuss the concerns the Gambian private

sector is facing as a result of the present mac-

roeconomic challenges in the country.

The Annual GCCI Business Awards 2015 was

also held in May. The GBA hosted the first

National Business Plan Competition Awards

with prizes of about 1.7 million Dalasis distrib-

uted among the 1st, 2nd and 3rd winners in

partnership with MOTIE’s GGCP.

GCCI has also revived its Employers’ Commit-

tee which was set up in 2012 to address em-

ployers’ matters and labour relations. The

GCCI employers’ guide book which summaris-

es the labour laws of The Gambia with the

partnership of ILO and through the engage-

ment of the services of Emanic consulting was

also validated and will be launched soon.

Prior to the Vision 2016, GCCI has over the

years been actively engaged towards advoca-

cy and promotion of Commercial Agriculture

within the private sector. During its annual

trade fairs, GCCI has always encouraged the

participation of economic operators in Agri-

business through engaging with projects and

NGO’s to assist small holder farmers for their

participation.

GCCI in partnership with GCAV organised an

Agri-Business Market Access and Linkage

forum in October. The forum was followed by a

capacity building training and Business Devel-

opment Services for food processors and pro-

ducers.

Two regional fairs, in the form of lumos, were

held in Brikama Ba (CRR South) and Sinchu

Alagie (WCR) supported by GCAV project.

The fairs which were conducted in the form of

lumos. GCCI successfully coached and put

together 10 (ten) business plans for enterpris-

es engaged in agriculture.

GCCI signed an MOU with the American

Chamber of Commerce – The Gambia

(AmCham), to support the Start-up Incubator

project, funded by the U.S. Department of

State. Similarly an MOU between GCCI and

the Ziguinchor Chamber of Commerce, Indus-

try and Agriculture (CCIAZ) was renewed in

May 2015 to follow up on the commitments of

the MOU which was signed in May 2014

From the GCCI President

November/December 2015 e-bulletin Page 2

Market Access Training

Following the Market Access and Linkage Forum held on October 28th 2015, the Gambia Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture & Employers’ Association in partner-ship with the Gambia Commercial Agriculture and Value Chain Management Project (GCAV) organized a capacity building training for small-scale food producers and pro-

cessors.

The training was held on Tuesday 17th November 2015, at 8:30am in GCCI’s seminar room at Kerr Jula, Bijilo. It was aimed at further strengthening the capacities of food producers and processors in accessing the domestic mar-ket outlets such as supermar-kets, hotels and restaurants, as

well as the international market.

The training included sessions on marketing, packaging, labelling, basic book keeping methods, main-taining con-sistency in food quality, among

others.

After each training session, participants were given the opportun i ty to ask ques-tions and provide con-t r i b u t i o n s relating to their experi-ences in

business.

Regional Trade Fair in CRR and WCR

The Gambia Chamber of Commerce, Industry , Agriculture

and Employers' Association (GCCI) in partnership with The

Gambia Commercial Agriculture and Value Chain Manage-

ment Project (GCAV) organized regional trade promotion

activities in BrikamaBa at Central River Region (CRR) South

(28th & 29th No-

vember) and Sin-

chu market at West

Coast Region on

(30th & 31st De-

cember 2015).

The theme for the fair was: "Promoting Agriculture as a Viable

Business". It was organized in the form of a traditional ‘lumo’

or ‘market day’, which availed participants to showcase their

agricultural produce and increase their access to markets.

November/December 2015 e-bulletin Page 3

Outreach Programs for High School Students

The GCCI schools’ outreach program proved to be timely

and impactful. Within the month of October and November

this year, SOS Hermann Gmeiner Senior High School and

SBEC International High School were visited.

The panellist included Mr. Fady Hochiemy (Board Mem-

ber), Mr. Kalifa M. Faal (Entrepreneur) and Ms. Ndey Had-

dy Jeng (DPS -

Min. of Foreign

Affairs). The

schools have also

expressed interest

to continue build

strategic partner-

ships with the Chamber. Several other schools will be vis-

ited in 2016.

9th Edition of

Trade Fair Gambia International

The official opening of the 9th Edition of Trade Fair Gambia

International was conducted on Tuesday 22nd December,

2015. The occasion was graced by Her excellency the Vice

President of The Re-

public, Dr. Isatou Njie

Saidy.

The Trade Fair specif-

ically included an agri-

business Business 2

Business (B2B) ses-

sion for the beneficiar-

ies and partners. The

objective of the B2B

was to provide a plat-

form for networking

between agribusiness-

es, value chain actors

and support institutions.

The event was held on Wednesday 30th December at the

Independence Stadium Bakau as part of a side-activity of the

Trade Fair.

Institutions present during the B2B included: the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), GIEPA (EMPRETEC), Social Development Fund (SDF) and Ecobank Gambia Limited. Before the meeting, participants were requested to fill profil-ing forms for their business activities. Based on the areas of interest indicated on the form, the agribusinesses were linked with the relevant institutions. The B2B was also an opportuni-ty for participants to voice out their concerns with the respec-

tive institutions.

Based on the feedback received, the participants raised is-

sues regarding the wide drift between rural and urban busi-

nesses, access to finance and marketing, and access to new

farming technology. Participants also viewed the B2B net-

working session as an educative activity for them, because

they became more

aware of the mandate

of the various institu-

tions, as well as the

roles played by these

institutions in agribusi-

ness.

November/December2015 e-bulletin Page 4

The next edition of SVUM 2016 International Trade Show at Rajkot is from 11th to 15thFebruary 2016. The show is or-ganised by SVUM and supported by various Govt. of India and Govt. of Gujarat Authorities. It is another such initiative by the Saurashtra Vepar Udyog Mahamandal having the objective of strengthening the busi-ness partnership with focus on sectors of high priority, en-hancing capacity building initiative, skill development and resources mobilization programs, their by acting as a facilita-tor for exchange of Business, cultural and Tourism between Saurashtra Kutch - India and Your Country.

SVUM 2016 International Trade Show is a well established business networking platform which covers the following….

* How Saurashtra Kutch Region of India can be a good part-ner of development of industry and commerce in your country.

* How to further promote and enhance business relation with your country.

* Enterprises-Growth-Strategies specially focusing the SME.

THE SECTORS it covers…….. Agriculture, Information and Technology, Farm Equipment, Industrial Supplies, Engineer-ing, Energy & Power, Education, Pharma & Healthcare, SME, and many more...

The SVUM Offers the following….

Complimentary Hotel Accommodation from 11th to 15th February, 2016 on double sharing.

Transportation for Pick up drop from Rajkot Airport and Local transportation from Hotel to Venue and other fac-tory visits

Breakfast and Lunches and Dinners. Delegation Kit. Gift and Mementos to every single participant. E Copy of the Entire Events photograph. Exporters and Manufacturers Directory of Saurashtra

Kutch. B2B meetings with 500+ reputed Manufacturers. Factory visit of selected manufacturers.

Seminar and conference on various programs specially designed for the development of bilateral trade development & explore the Technology transfer and investment opportuni-ties.

The last date for Registration is 25th January 2016

Invitation for International Business Delegates to Explore the

Business opportunity with Saurashtra Kutch the SME hub of

Country Date Activity

New Delhi 4th— 6th February 2016 Delhi Road Show-Kerala B2B Meet

Praia, Cabo Verde 19th —21st February 2016 1st Int’l Fair of Environment &

Renewable Energy 2016

New Delhi, India 14th—15th March 2016 11th CII Exim Bank Conclave

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 22nd—26th May 2016 15th Trade Fair for OIC Member States

Shanghai, China 11th - 13th April 2016 China Africa SME Convention

Trade Fairs and Exhibitions