By Mariatou Ngum
Hon. Baboucarr Ousmaila Joof, the minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment (MoTIE), has called on members of the Diaspora and investors out there to come to The Gambia and invest in industrialisation in order to stimulate the economic growth of the country through trade.
The Trade Minister made this call on Friday, 13th January 2023 during his visit to Cashew Gam Company Limited in Brikama Kabafita, West Coast Region.
He was accompanied by Mr. Lamin Dampha, the Permanent Secretary, and other senior staff of the Ministry. The purpose of the Minister’s visit was to enable him get first hand information about the factory and how government can support the revival and functional operation of the factory.
In his reaction, Hon. Joof called the company “a local initiative by a local investor,” who he described as “a patriotic Gambian who wants to be part of the journey to develop the country’s economy”.
Despite the challenges he faced, he recognised, Mr. Muhammed B. Kabba, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the factory, has refused to give up; that he has stayed on the course by giving out all his energy to creating employment for Gambian people. “I know the company is capable of bringing in at least 500 people if we maximise the resources and have in place the required machinery” he stated.
The Trade Minister informed the gathering that the President of the Republic, His Excellency Mr. Adama Barrow has recently launched the Gambia’s Employment Policy in which they promised a 150,000 jobs over the next 5 years. “Thus if Mr. Kabba can give us 500, other 50 Gambians give us 500 jobs each, we will easily get to the 150,000 new jobs before the 5 years elapses and that is what we are looking forward to”.
Mr Joof commended the investor for complementing government’s efforts in promoting ‘made in The Gambia’ brand, as well as for promoting employment, industrial and economic development.
Mr. Lamin Dampha, the Permanent Secretary, affirmed that cashew is highly labour-intensive. “Therefore, if the factory is in full operation,” he predicted, it can employ nothing less than 300 Gambians.
PS Dampha commended Mr. Kabba for his investment and assured him of government’s support and readiness to work with him throughout the way.
CEO Muhammed Kabba, thanked the Minister and delegation for taking time to visit the factory and expressed hope that they will collaborate to strengthen operation in order to create more employment opportunities.
Musa Ceesay, the accountant of the factory, said that in Cashew Gam, they focus on value, export and terms of trade. He revealed that since the establishment of the factory, they have been able to export cashew to the US market, calling it a very great achievement not only for the factory but for The Gambia.
