By: Sering .M. Touray
The Tourism Diversification and Resilience in the Gambia Project (TDRGP) last week graduated its first Cohort of 57 tourism-related business entrepreneurs during a ceremony held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba International Conference Center, Bijilo.
Their graduation was a result of the completion of their six months of intensive and comprehensive capacity-building training on business entrepreneurship, thus guaranteeing an opportunity to support via TDRGP.
This project supported by the World Bank aimed to build the capacity of over 200 tourism-related Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises in the Gambia.
According to officials, this project under its sub-component 1B, is on capacity building and support with priority given to female-owned and led businesses thus building linkage between them and the lead firms in the tourism industry.
The graduation ceremony also marked the unveiling of the second cohort of 65 MSMEs under the newly branded YOKUTE Accelerator program.
In his Keynote address the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) Abdoulie Jobe, congratulated the graduates and the new intake.
He noted that the event was a manifestation of the government’s commitment to diversifying the Gambia’s tourism industry. “Today marks a significant milestone in our journey towards a more inclusive, diversified, and resilient tourism sector,” he stated.
Minister Jobe acknowledged that the event began with a bold ambition of transforming the Gambia’s tourism landscape. He said the TDRGT project is funded by the World Bank through IDA grant financing adding that at the heart of this ambitious undertaking is the MSMEs Matching grant worth $9 million.
The event, he noted, also marks the disbursement of about $1.4 million matching grant to beneficiaries.
Minister Jobe thanked the World Bank and other partners who have contributed immensely towards the success, so far, registered in the cause of the implementation of the Tourism Diversification and Resilience of the Gambia Project.
Frankline Mutahakana, the World Bank Group Country Representative reaffirms the bank’s commitment to supporting the Gambia’s tourism sector.
“The World Bank remains dedicated to building the capacity of at least 200 tourism-related MSMEs through this project, contributing to economic growth and job creation with particular emphasis on women’s economic empowerment and youth employment creation in the Gambia” he stated.
In his statement, IBF, Project Manager Washington Koech, spoke on the significance and achievements registered during the capacity-building training.
He affirms that 62 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) had, successfully, completed a six months’ intensive capacity-building program and that 57 of them have qualified for the matching grant scheme.
He confirmed that they underwent comprehensive training with dedicated expert support and on-site coaching led by Business Development Managers (BMDs).
Project Manager Koech emphasized the strategic approach taken by the technical team to ensure that the new graduates of MSMEs gain relevant skills and expertise to enhance their business operations and sustainability within the tourism value chain.
He finally congratulated the team and expressed gratitude to the World Bank, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and other implementing partners for their support.
Momodou Ceesay, TDRGP Project Coordinator expressed delight with the progress made in the implementation of the project.
He said the graduation of this first cohort demonstrates the incredible potentials within the Tourism sector adding that these MSMEs are now better positioned to strengthen their relationships with lead firms in the Tourism industry.
