By Makutu Manneh
The Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GiEPA), has launched The Gambia Competitiveness Improvement Forum (GAMCIF) for a friendlier business and investment environment for the country’s economy.
According to GiEPA authorities, GAMCIF which is a public-private platform, will create a desirable environment that will boost the country’s doing business ranking globally, and as increase job creation and improve foreign exchange earnings for improved economic growth and development.
The theme for the forum was: ‘Establishing the Gambia as an investment hub, and advocating for a friendlier business environment.’
President Adama Barrow is the Chairperson of the GAMCIF executive body including nine cabinet ministers, five private sector representatives, departments, agencies and civil society representatives.
Baboucarr Joof, the Minister of Trade, said the forum is a platform meant to address challenges between the government and private sector players, committed to improving the country’s business environment. He said GAMCIF will enable the country gain positive improvements on how she conducts business indexes and streamline the processes of business registration, compliance, tax payment, licensing and permit, cost of doing business and others. He said GAMCIF will also enhance investment attraction and facilitation, export facilitation and development of MSMEs particularly the agriculture sector.
“My ministry will continue to actively engage and work with all players in the required process of reform, to enhance transparency and consistency in our approach to resolve the many challenges facing Gambian business,” he said.
The Minister said deepening and diversifying the country’s trade relations will make us more resilient as a country.
Ousainou Senghore, GIEPA’s Chief Executive Officer said the forum will harness a viable friendly business environment by providing policy recommendations for economic reforms to promote sustainable growth for the economy and showcase a competitive investment environment. He guaranteed that the forum will save them from frustration and inadequate support, and will dismantle the confusion of where to go and what to expect, when businesses are confronted with challenges.
“GAMCIF is intended to encourage holistic investigative measures to remove barriers to economic growth in the Gambia, by promoting and facilitating investment in the productive sector, particularly the agricultural value chains,” he said.
