GIEPA introduces Indian investors to Gambia
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Gambia<http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/news>
Monday, May 09, 2011
The Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA) Friday held a
one-day investment forum with visiting Indian investors at the Atlantic
Hotel in Banjul.

The forum, which was presided over by Abdou Kolley, minister of Trade,
Regional Integration and Employment also had in attendance Dembo Badjie,
Gambia’s high commissioner to India. It was characterised by presentations
of investment opportunities in The Gambia through a power point presentation
by Musa Bah, director of Investment Promotion and Facilitation at GIEPA.

This was preceded by the introduction of the visiting Indian investors in
the country and their Gambian counterparts as well as a question-and-answer
session. Each of the visiting investors took turns to introduce themselves,
their business operations in India and other parts of the globe. They spoke
extensively about the areas of their operations, the success stories they
registered, how they hope to partner with their Gambian counterparts in all
aspects of development of the country, especially in agriculture, health,
waste management, energy, and water among others.

Representatives of the Gambian business community also seized the
opportunity to introduce themselves and their businesses to the visiting
Indian investors. Addressing the gathering, Abdou Kolley, minister of Trade,
Regional Integration and Employment welcomed the Indian investors, and urged
them to feel relaxed and interact with their Gambian counterparts and also
explore areas of interest for investment in the country.

Investment assurance
Minister Kolley further urged the Indian investors to invest in The Gambia,
a country he described as a safe haven for investment through a conducive
environment created by the Gambian leader as part of his desire to transform
the country into a developed nation. He also spoke at length about the
importance attached to promotion, development and protection of business
investors in the country. The Trade minister pointed out that President
Jammeh is very supportive of the development and promotion of private
sector-led growth in the country as illustrated in the creation and
establishment of GIEPA, which replaced GIPFZA.

“Your money, your materials, investment and everything is safe in The
Gambia. I encourage you to come and invest in The Gambia otherwise called
the Smiling Coast of Africa,” he assured. He also highlighted on the
existence of the Ecowas trade protocol, which The Gambia is a signatory to,
among other regional and global protocols and treaties. Minister Kolley
finally commended High Commissioner Badjie for what he called his foresight,
commitment, determination and resolve towards achieving sustainable
development of The Gambia by bringing in the Indian investors into the
country. He also thanked GCCI and GIEPA for their tireless commitment and
zeal in the promotion and development of business investment in the country.

Dembo Badjie, the Gambia’s high commissioner to India, gave a detailed
explanation of series of events leading to the visit of the Indian
investors. He revealed that a total of 16 companies had planned to visit The
Gambia on investment mission, but some of them could not make it to the
forum owing to the flight schedule. He however, said they called to say they
will come for the visit. High Commissioner Badjie described the visiting
investors as successful business companies operating in India and other
parts of the globe.

Bai Matar Drammeh, the president of the GCCI, introduced the Gambian
business community representatives to the Indian investors and urged the two
parties to explore areas of their business interest. The GCCI boss then
harped on the importance government attaches to the promotion and
development of private sector growth in the country. He also highlighted the
creation and establishment of GIEPA and other related business investment
policies and programmes by the government of The Gambia.

Fatou Jallow, the chief executive officer of GIEPA explained the aims and
objectives the Agency, which according to her, started operations in the
year 2010, replacing the former GIPFZA which was created and established in
the year 2001. Jallow expressed her Agency’s delight at receiving the Indian
investors in the country. She opined that the trade mission and their
investment in The Gambia will greatly strengthen the economic development of
the country in accordance with the development blueprint of the government
of The Gambia.

The GIEPA CEO made reference to the existing bilateral relations between The
Gambia and India as indicated in the recent India-Africa Conference held in
New Delhi in March 2011, which was attended by a high-powered Gambian
delegation. She described the trade mission’s visit as very important
considering some of the key areas set to be explored by them for investment
in the country and their impact on the development of the country.
Author: *by Sanna Jawara*

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GOD BLESS THE GAMBIA.
LET US JOIN HANDS AND SUPPORT SHEIKH PROFESSOR DR. ALH YAHYA JAMMEH (NASIRU
DEEN) TO BUILD OUR COUNTRY. *


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