By Mariatou Ngum
In a concerted effort to bolster intra-African trade and foster equitable economic opportunities, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment (MoTIE) last week hosted a pivotal stakeholder workshop which focused on the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreements at a local hotel in Kololi.
The workshop aims to provide a platform for key stakeholders to discuss strategies and initiatives that support women and youth-owned businesses and entrepreneurs. By empowering these vital segments of the population, the Ministry seeks to enhance their participation in the African market, ensuring sustainable growth and inclusivity in trade across the continent. In his opening statement on behalf of the Deputy Permanent Secretary, Mr. Musa Sawaneh, the Principal Economist, Ministry of Trade said that the workshop has two critical aspects of the Gambia’s economic transformation discourse: the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement and the pivotal role of the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade. These two dimensions, he noted, are not only interconnected but also central to achieving sustainable and inclusive development for the continent and indeed, for The Gambia.
He affirmed that in The Gambia, women and youth constitute a significant portion of the population and are actively engaged in trade, particularly in informal cross-border trading. Yet, he said, they face persistent challenges, including limited access to finance, discriminatory practices, lack of market information, and regulatory barriers. Hence, he noted, the Protocol provides them with the tools to address these challenges by promoting equal opportunities, removing systemic obstacles, and creating a more equitable trading environment. For her part, Beatrice Mboge, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Gambia Women Chamber of Commerce (GWCC) described the meeting as a big opportunity for the women. She urged them to formalize their enterprises so that they can be at the next level. She said that they have embarked on a couple of trainings on food processing, reservation packaging and marketing thus without product development, they cannot benefit from the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.
Baboucarr Kebbeh, the CEO of The Gambia Startup Chamber of Commerce commended the Ministry of Trade for the initiative while calling on the entrepreneurs to work hard in order to take their products to another level. The CEO of The Gambia Youth Chamber of Commerce Fatima Muloshi, admitted that the AfCFTA holds great importance for The Gambia, especially for youth entrepreneurs, by creating new opportunities to grow businesses and contribute to national development. She mentioned that AfCFTA connects The Gambia to a wider African market of over 1.3 billion people thus Youth entrepreneurs in The Gambia can expand their businesses beyond the country’s small population, selling products and services across Africa and increasing their revenue potential.
