The Global Youth Innovation Network (GYIN) Gambia Chapter held the official opening ceremony for its 6-week training program for 100 small-scale cross-border traders in Soma, Lower River Region (LRR), yesterday, on October 2, 2024.
The training sessions, centered on Trade Rules and Regulations as well as Trader Rights and Obligations, will be held in Soma for 100 participants and another 100 in Basse.
This 5-month project is funded by The Trade Facilitation West Africa (TFWA), implemented and coordinated by GYIN Gambia in partnership with Doorways gGmbH. TFWA is funded by The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Netherlands, the European Union, and The German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and is implemented by The World Bank Group and GIZ, with strategic oversight from a Steering Committee chaired by The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) with Union économique et monétaire ouest-africaine (UEMOA) as Deputy Chair.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Hon. Momodou Camara, Deputy Governor of the region, said that as the ECOWAS region works towards economic integration, small-scale cross-border traders can play a crucial role in intraregional trade.
“I am happy to note that the West Africa Trade Facilitation (TFWA) Program aims to reduce trade barriers faced by small-scale cross-border traders. This six-week training for the small-scale cross-border trader is significant and timely, as it will equip participants, especially women, with the requisite skills and knowledge in cross-border trade,” he added.
The Deputy Governor further noted that it is empirical that small-scale cross-border trading offers numerous benefits, both for individual traders and the broader economy, saying that it fosters inclusive growth and enhances the livelihoods of marginalized groups, including women.
He continued: “It also provides women with the opportunity to earn their own income, enhancing their financial autonomy and decision-making power within their households and the larger community.”
“Most importantly, increased visibility of women in trade can lead to greater advocacy for policies that support women’s rights and address gender-specific barriers in the business environment.”
Camara commended GYIN Gambia and its partners for spearheading the implementation of the TFWA Program in The Gambia, saying, “GYIN Gambia, I salute you for the great work you are doing in rural areas and keep it up.”
In his speech on the occasion, Mamadou Edrisa Njie, Executive Director of GYIN Gambia, thanked the donors for trusting his organization to coordinate the implementation of the five-month TFWA Program in The Gambia.
Commenting further, Mr. Njie expressed gratitude to all the stakeholders and the beneficiaries of the TFWA Program in The Gambia while enthusing that GYIN Gambia is well known for the successful implementation of projects and programs in the country.
According to him, the TFWA Program aims to improve the movement of goods along selected corridors within the region and at the international level by reducing delays and costs borne by the private sector.
The TWFA Program, he explained, among its objectives is to strengthen the capacity of women and men traders ’networks to take advantage of improvements.
Commissioner Famara Colley of The Gambia Immigration Department and Malaine Touray, Custom Officer in Soma, all spoke at the opening ceremony, emphasizing the documentation, rights, and responsibilities of small-scale cross-border traders.
Mrs. Ida L.B Ceesay, Logistic Expert of the TFWA Program in The Gambia, moderated the official opening and spoke at length about the training.