By Fatou Krubally
The Gambian government says planned industrial and economic zones have the potential to create nearly 100,000 jobs when fully operational, particularly in manufacturing, agro-processing, logistics and other productive sectors.
Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment Mod K. Ceesay made the disclosure while speaking at the launch of the Afrimakk Initiative and its Young Innovators Challenge, which seeks to promote entrepreneurship and innovation among students.
Ceesay said the development of industrial and economic zones would help attract investment, promote local value addition, encourage innovation and expand employment opportunities, particularly for young Gambians.
He said the zones could provide new opportunities for young people while strengthening the country’s business and entrepreneurial environment.
The minister, however, stressed that talent and ambition alone were not sufficient to guarantee entrepreneurial success, saying young entrepreneurs needed an enabling environment to formalize their businesses, access finance, acquire relevant skills, connect to markets, use digital technologies and compete fairly.
He pointed to the Digital Single Window Business Registration System, being developed in collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the Ministry of Justice, as one of the government’s interventions aimed at simplifying business registration and encouraging formalisation.
Ceesay also highlighted enterprise development programmes supporting young people and women entrepreneurs, including the She-Trades Gambia Hub, which assists women-owned businesses to strengthen their operations and participate more effectively in the economy.
He encouraged young entrepreneurs to look beyond the domestic market and take advantage of opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
According to the minister, The Gambia has gazetted provisional AfCFTA tariff concessions and established the necessary customs processing code to support implementation.
He said the continental market offered significant opportunities for Gambian businesses capable of developing products and services that meet regional and international standards.
Ceesay called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, private-sector organisations, financial institutions, development partners and educational institutions to support young entrepreneurs.
He said young people should not be viewed merely as beneficiaries of development but as active participants, creators, problem-solvers, innovators and future employers.
“This is why entrepreneurship and innovation must be encouraged and nurtured from an early age, taking into consideration our local realities, resources and opportunities,” he said.
The Afrimakk Initiative, the first flagship initiative under the Mendez Impact Foundation, was launched with a pilot Young Innovators Challenge involving nine schools.
The initiative seeks to expose students to entrepreneurship, innovation, mentorship, networking and leadership development while providing them with opportunities to develop ideas and practical solutions to challenges in their communities.
Ceesay urged participating students to take full advantage of the programme, stressing that entrepreneurship requires determination, discipline, sound management and continuous learning.
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