Well, well, after reading some articles on the issue about  the  West
African Monetary Union(WAMU), i realized to be reading some of the most  of
the information beyond the bounds of good  taste. I hope that our  WAMU
representatives will continue their work and  do not have to  pay attention
to some of the negative information posted on the Gambia-L.

Fact of the matter is that so many African countries like ours are so small
and fragile, they cannot provide the economies required to sustain the large
investment volumes that is needed for a  fast-moving  and sustained
industrial development. An economic regional cooperation is not only
important but also necessary for the removal of hindrance to trade and free
movement of people.

It is due to these trade hindrances why some imported European goods can be
up to 15 per cent cheaper than the same goods from a neighboring country.
WAMU has already made some significant improvements in decreasing some
customs duties successively by 30 per cent and now by around 60 per cent.

This is an important step towards increase trade  volume between our
countries in the region which is around 15 per cent of their total trading
volume. This will allso enhance foreign investments as the region becomes
economically stable. The size of the " West African Common Market"  could
bring economies of production of competitive goods and services. Such
economic integration initiatives are being applauded by the business
community.

We Africans should be subjects of our own destiny and be mindful of the
acute choices facing our societies!

Thanks for Sharing!

SS.Jawara
Stockholm, Sweden.

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