By Lamin Kujabi
His Excellency President Adama, doubling as the chair of the National Business Council, on Saturday, February 10th presided over the 8th council meeting and the first for 2024.
In his address, the President said the meeting provides an opportunity for him to express appreciation of the tremendous work that Council has been undertaking to promote suitable policies and strategies on national economic development. He acknowledged the useful role played by the private sector in the Council’s work and progress.
He also recognised the role of the private sector for its contribution to nation building through investment, job creation, and tax payment to fund government programmes.
He reassured of Government’s will to ensure that the necessary conditions are created for the sector to grow and thrive.
“As you know, the Business Council was established on the understanding that: “… private sector-driven economic growth is a viable development model for The Gambia, and that a dynamic private sector requires a strong enabling environment and the removal of obstacles to trade and investment.”
To realise this, he said, the Council has to provide the required technical advisory support for the conception and implementation of the national economic reform agenda. “Furthermore, the Council needs to effectively coordinate and monitor the implementation of the identified reforms”.
The President said establishing a thriving and robust private sector is aligned with a key pillar of the National Development Plan -YIRIWA (2023-2027), which is, Macroeconomic Stability and Inclusive Growth, aimed to achieve inclusive growth and reduce poverty through manufacturing, employment creation, and trade facilitation.
While acknowledging challenges, the President expressed his government’s recommitment to resolving the bottlenecks constraining the development of the private sector.
Part of his government’s strategies to enhance investment and the private sector environment is to invest in infrastructural development along reliable, and affordable electricity supply, as well as internet broadband access.
