Gassa,
Thanks. This is an area I have a lot of interest in. For example, I believe
that the kinds of activities you mentioned as having been sponsored by
various businesses is a very positive thing. Organizing trade shows will not
only educate young entreprenuers about different areas of business they can
pursue, but also encourage Gambians to "buy Gambian" as this will support our
entrepreneurs and keep the money at home.
That is an important point that a lot of people do not seem to realize and
appreciate. Buying local helps to encourage local producres of goods and
services, generate income for the businesses, which in turn will help them
expand and create more jobs, as well as keep the money at home.
The U.S government understands so well the fact that grownt of the business
sector will put more tax dollars in government coffers. That is why they have
excellent programs in place to assist small business in getting started,
writing business plans training on how run their businesses and most
impotatn of all, small business loans to launch businesses..
The main deterrent for most Gambians is funding to start small businesses, so
the involvement of banks such as AGIB is a positive move indeed and I hpe
that the outreach to eduate and interest people to take advantage of these
programs will be in place.
One area I agree with Jammeh on ( although I do not see his government doing
anything to help Gambians secure funding and other asistance to start
businesses in these areas) is that entrepreneurs need to look at other
areas like farming and production businesses as well. a diversification of
interests. We Gambians who are business minded tend not to look at the
society and ask ourselves what goods and services are needed and set out to
create businesses to fill these needs, but we tend to just copy other
people's business ideas and saturate that particular market. For example, if
Samba gets a taxi business, everyone wants a taxi business instead of looking
at other needs that are wide open to service, and which may not be popular
but which can be a very lucrative market.
Looking at these kinds of thing is what makes the U.S business market a
success. Entreprenures will look at every concievable need and set up
businesses to fill those needs. Gambians tend to think of themselves as being
too good to peform certain services or enter into certain service related
businesses. We tend to think that everyone should have a business that
reflects intellectual capacity or give you a certain status, "do not dirty
your hands", and this is not only bad for our economic well-being, it leaves
our society dependent on imports, putting our few dalasis into someone else's
pocket and for those services that cannot be imported, we do without.
Foreigners who visit our country do pay attention to what goods and services
are needed but which no one fills, so they do come back to settle and provde
these needs, and that is our fault.For example, at least since 1997 which was
the last time I was home, there was not a single first class Gambian
restaurant that served classic Gambian dishes. The hotels featured Gambian
food once a week on their menus, and yet, tourists very much want to
experience good Gambian food when they are there, not some European dishes. I
bet any highly educated Gambian who opened a reataurant and donned an apron
to cook and serve these dishes would be whispered about, and yet, what a
lucrative business that would be. We need to get off our high horses so we
can improve our economic condition, and any business that can generate a good
income legally for a family is an honourable one indeed.
If entrepreneurs look at the bigger picture when they venture to start
businesses, and focus on a niche marlets that are wide open, and which will
therefore be a success if
tapped into, instead of appearances, we will be a lot better off
economically both on an individual as well as a national level.
Jabou Joh
[log in to unmask] writes:
>
> Jabou,
>
> Very sorry for coming back this late. Unfortunately, time has been rather
> scarce for me, these days.
>
> I am not aware of the AGIB bank having any website though. All said, it is
> very gratifying to note that the private sector and community at large are
> getting more and more involved in trying to develop an entrepreur-led
> Gambian society. For example, FM-B Radio station, a Brikama community radio
> station, is organising a two-day (August 16-17th) trade show. This trade
> show is meant "to motivate youths with self-development strategies,
> encourage growth in commercial activities for family sustainability and to
> provide meaningful counselling", according to the organisers. The Gambia
> Chamber of Commerce and Industries has also organised numerous workshops
> both for the SMEs and also for those in government who monitor and regulate
> their activities.
>
> Other private businesses and parastatals also sponsore wards in the various
> hospitals as well as operate scholarship funds. This year, Trust Bank
> Gambia
> Limited is for example, sponsoring a number of Nawetaan teams to the tune
> of
> over D200,000.00.
>
> Have a good day, Gassa.
>
>
> >From: Jabou Joh <[log in to unmask]>
> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
> ><[log in to unmask]>
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: NYSS, AGIB launch youth /Gassa
> >Date: Sat, 20 Jul 2002 14:58:22 EDT
> >
> >This is very interesting Gassa, and something positive for our youth who
> >need
> >all the assistance they can get. Does the bank have a website? I visited
> >with
> >Mamour Jagne in 1997 when i was in Gambia, and they seemd ready and
> willing
> >to fund viable and promising enterprensurial projects. I found all of the
> >people there very professional and pleasant to interact with.
> >
> >Jabou Joh
> >
> >In a message dated 7/20/2002 12:27:31 PM Central Daylight Time,
> >[log in to unmask] writes:
> >
> >
> > > NYSS, AGIB launch youth enterprise development fund
> > >
> > > By Fatou Touray
> > >
> > > AGIB the Banjul-based Arab Gambian Islamic Bank Ltd has announced the
> > > establishment of the NYSS-AGIB youth enterprise development fund with
> an
> > > initial sum of D250,000.
> > >
> > > The fund will be a revolving facility, and will be jointly administered
> >by
> > > NYSS, the National Youth Service Scheme, and AGIB which on Friday
> >launched
> > > the fund at the bank's head office in Banjul.
> > >
> > > The NYSS will process all applications for financing and the bank will
> > > disburse to individual applicants on the request of the NYSS.
> > >
> > > The facility will be utilised in the acquisition of machinery and
> tools,
> >as
> > > well as to provide working capital. "This will provide the much-needed
> > > capital for the establishment of youths in gainful and productive
> > > self-employment," AGIB's managing director Mamour Jagne said at the
> > > launching ceremony. He announced that the revolving fund will be
> >increased
> > > if it proves viable, and called on the young people of this country to
> >use
> > > the facility wisely in a partnership with AGIB. "Any individal who
> >performs
> > > well will graduate from this fund to participate in the bank's general
> > > investment pool on his or her own right as a customer," Jagne revealed.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>
>
>
> There is a time in the life of every problem when it is big enough to see,
> yet small enough to solve. -Mike- Levitt-
>
>
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