What is the grain to mill again? I know Gambia does not grow any wheat so any attempt to rely on imported grain could further complicate things for the foreign exchange market. It will be nice to see milled millet every where but how will the Mill buy (the grain) and sell (milled product) to and from farmers? Will the trade in millet be modeled to that of groundnut? More importantly,  are there any safeguards for  Gambian farmers in a globalized millet market? Just some food for thought. 

Malanding Jaiteh

Courtesy: observer.gm

US$17M Flour Mill commissioned in Banjul



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Wednesday, July 03, 2013
The Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Jammeh, Monday afternoon inaugurated a US$17M
Flour Mill Company in Banjul as part of activities during his 2013 “Dialogue with the People Tour’ that ended the same day in Banjul.

Named the Gambia Milling Corporation, the Mill has the capacity to produce up to 93, 000 metric tonnes of flour, which according to officials, is more than adequate for the domestic demand. With this production capacity, the company is elegible to benefit from the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme by exporting its product to other member countries duty free.

Aside from creating job opportunities that it comes along with, the Mill is expected to enhance the national economy, especially in increasing foreign exchange, transfer of technology, training and capacity building, balance of trade and support to the gateway strategy.  The project, according to officials, has also been listed under sectors list priority by the ‘Investment Law of the Gambia’.

President Jammeh, in his inaugural address, assured the investors of his government’s continued support to all stakeholders in ensuring that the business and investment climate remains vibrant and more competitive. 

He said: “We are already renowned for being a bastion of peace and security, which is essential for any meaningful economic growth and development. This national milieu is what investors require to have a prosperous and secure investment. The strategic position of The Gambia as the gateway to West Africa provides a strong platform to explore the huge market potential within the West African sub-region and beyond.”  He described the day’s event as an encouragement that shows that the private sector is responding to the call for partnership in socio-economic development.

The president underscored that he has talked about Africa moving away from export of raw materials over the years to value addition, adding that this investment is a testimony that people are responding to his call.  He further stated that in order to support investments such as this, his government will continue to invest in infrastructure, peace and security as key pillars to entice, encourage and support investors and investment projects that meet the development aspirations of The Gambia. 

He continued: “My government is always willing to go the extra mile to support investments that are in the interest of the Gambian people and are inline with our national development agenda.”  He also urged the company to consider implementing phase II of the project, which is the feed mill aspect, to cater for the huge demand in the market. 

While assuring all stakeholders of his government’s commitment to partner and work with all to realise the goals of Vision 2020, the president said his government is committed to undertaking the necessary reforms to make her institutions more efficient and effective, improve the legal and regulatory environment, reduce the cost of doing business and improve competitiveness inline with the desire for private sector-led development as enshrined in the Vision 2020. 

The government, he went on, has always reached out to the private sector and will continue to do so. He was quick to stress that the government will not tolerate those whose participation is guided by greed and unbridled personal interest as opposed to win-win outcomes for all stakeholders.

He added: “Our commitment to public private partnership is evidenced by various engagements and platforms including the recent High Level Economic Committee comprising of key ministers and business leaders tasked to look at critical issues related to improving business environment for the private sector to be the real engine of growth of this country.” 

President Jammeh described the project as a manifestation of the potentials of The Gambia, thus calling on all to harness the investment opportunities that this country is blessed with.  “I wish to assure all genuine investors, domestic or foreign that my government will continue to provide support and protection to genuine and sincere investors ready to contribute to our socio-economic development while realising decent returns on their investment,” he concluded.

Speaking earlier, the minister of Trade, Integration and Employment, Kebba Touray, said the Gambia Milling Corporation project was granted a special investment status by the government through his Ministry. He noted that the evaluation results done by GIEPA indicated that the project has surpassed all the minimum criteria for qualification to special investment status. He also assured that his Ministry will continue to support ventures such as this, as private investment is one of the secure ways to generate wealth and eradicate poverty. 

The Trade minister called on the private sector to diversify more towards value addition and manufacturing, while seizing the opportunity to thank the investors for their decision to choose The Gambia as a location for their investment.  “I also commended GIEPA for their facilitation role and above all I thank His Excellency the president,” he remarked. 

Also speaking at the ceremony, Mohammed Bashy gave an overview of the project. He explained that the project is industrial and has also got agricultural investment opportunities.  According to him, the company will from now on produce excellent quality flour in The Gambia. 

“It has also got high potential to attract foreign exchange by way of export to neighbuoring countries, employment opportunities for over a hundred Gambians in various departments of the mill. It will also include an animal feed mill to produce sufficient quantities of feed for cattle and poultry for Gambia and the sub-region. This will also encourage investment in cattle and poultry farms leading to food self-sufficiency,” he told the told the gathering.

 “In addition to this mill, we will develop a big storage facility for all types of grain on the former Navy Land at the port which we hope to officially commission in 2014,” he said disclosed, while thanking the Gambian leader for his personal support and creating the enabling environment that encourages investment in the country.

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