|
Momodou
Denmark
11684 Posts |
 Posted - 10 Dec 2007 : 22:07:44
|
GCCI ON THE TRADE FAIR
By Amie Sanneh
The President of the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Bai Matarr Drammeh, has described logistics as the biggest challenge in this year’s Trade Fair.
The GCCI Chair made these remarks on Saturday at a Press Conference to mark the end of this year’s Trade Fair at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.
Mr. Drammeh said that they do not have Trade Fair grounds with security; that they had to hire and pay for it. He added that the previous Trade Fair was expensive but this year’s was more expensive. He admitted that the high cost was reflected in the prices thus making them high.
Mr. Drammeh, however, said that they are not trying to make money out of the Trade Fair but wanted to provide international opportunities for Gambian businessmen. The GCCI Chair described the trade fair as generally successful. He said they were able to get people and businessmen to participate in the event. Mr. Drammeh added that contacts were made among businessmen, both nationally and internationally.
The coordinator of the Trade Fair, Beatrice Allen, said the press conference is to mark the end of the Fair and to also see the responses and reactions that symbolize the process of the Trade Fair. She said that when they have a complex, they will be organizing Trade Fairs every three months.
“In that case,” she said, “you will have everything in place and it will be less expensive.’’
Mohammed Jagana, Chairman of the Fair, said the event is worth having very often. He also described it as a successful one, noting that they had achieved their objectives, likewise the businessmen. He said they were able to create opportunities with the international market.
Also speaking at the press conference were some businesswomen at the Trade Fair. Aja Mariam Jobe expressed her delight and said that the reason why things were expensive is because of the stalls. She however appealed to GCCI to be organizing Trade Fairs during Ramadan. She said there is security and people were moving freely without any occurrence of theft. She also urged GCCI to increase the duration of the event for them to auction their products for the Tobaski and Christmas feasts.
Madam Jobe noted that many people want to go for auction sale in the markets but always fear thieves. She said at the Trade Fair grounds such incidents will not occur due to the security they have. She commended GCCI for organizing such events and guaranteeing the security of their goods.
Marie Mbye, also a participant trader, suggested for the Chamber to create a funding scheme of which, every month, businesspersons would pay a contribution into an account so that when event comes up it would not be difficult and that things will be less expensive.
In responding to the comments, the President of GCCI said they could not at this stage, give any concrete response to the suggestion regarding the increase of the number of days for the Trade Fair. However, he described it as a wise suggestion but that it needs to be looked into very carefully. He noted that they had made a contract with the management of the stadium already. However, he promised to talk to them and find out if it would be possible to hold it for the Tobaski and Christmas feasts.
In an interview with customers, one Mbenge Sarr described the Trade Fair as a good thing but said that, for her, most of the goods displayed were expensive. She however noted that many people think that during Trade Fairs goods are expected to be cheaper.
One Alagie Jallow, who was also a customer, described it as a remarkable event. He said he had bought electronic gadgets at a give away price. He said that goods were less expensive than in their original shops. He however commended GCCI for organizing such an event and urged them to be organizing such events often.
At the end of the conference, GCCI promised to honour its partners and sponsors with ‘Thank You’ letters and certificates which will be given out in January at a Gala Dinner.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 145/2007, 10 – 11 December 2007
|
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
Topic Locked
