Friday, 8 April 2011

The creation of a market

Women Empowerment Gains Momentum, as Gov allocates vast plot of land for a multi-purpose market

In its drive to reduce poverty by empowering women who are found to be the most vulnerable, the government of the Gambia has taken two major bold steps in recent years. first the launching of the National Federation of Gambian Women and the allocation of a multi-million plot of land at a strategic location at Bursubi around the police station for the purpose of a multi-purpose market, whose establishment would cost 250 million Gambian dalasi.
The land would be used as a multi-purpose centre dubbed ‘Lumo’, where people, particularly women from all walks of life including those from the sub-region meet to trade and show-case their produce. It creates a sort of a platform where wholesalers could buy large quantity of produce and sell them under retail at the mini-markets in the region.

In a bid to get the glimpse of the rationale behind the initiative, our reporter spoke with certain personae that are keyed in the National Federation of Gambian Women- the federation launched recently to oversee the affairs of Gambian women from both the formal and informal sectors of the country.

Ida Faye Hydara, the executive director of Women’s Bureau told this reporter that
products produced by various villages could be brought here as a wholesale, so those from the serrekunda market, Bundung market and other markets can come here and buy them. She said this create an “easy access to horticultural products for market sellers”.
“This is like creating a link between sellers and buyers, as well as producers.

Asked what about villages that produce the same products and wish to access the market, whether there would be no conflict of interest? She said they are laying much emphasis on a system of “one village one product”, by “organising and programming them [the producers].”

She harps on the high interest rate that banks give to women, saying this is why they are not reluctant to give them credit, so they would have finance to buy some of their needs. We are trying to create an avenue for business venture, that’s why we told them to pay five dalasi each [500,000 women targeted].”
However, she said even though this stipulated amount is paid, they are still unable to meet the necessary financing to build up the market. “That’s why we asked every woman to pay D500 each, so we meet the demand [D250 million] for a multi-purpose centre [lumo].” She adds that they should not be at a standstill as a result of donor funding gap, but rather use their own resources to implement programmes. “It has been a while women are oriented to sit and wait for donor funding, which is not sustainable. Vegetable growing or farming is different… you have to invest to really make money out of it.” Putting up effective water system and proper sanitation is part of the demand Ida made mentioned about. That is why the Federation has targeted 500, 000 women who are committed to paying D500 each in order to make a headway for the market.

She called on the women to manifested commitment, saying “the more women are committed, the more support we get from both government and development partners,” even though she described the latter as “not sustainable”.

She challenged the need for private sector involvement, saying “we are expecting them to support us in the area of creating more awareness,” adding: “they have brilliant ideas.”

“Financial institutions need people [business people] to save, so if people don’t have enough money, how do you expect them to save [or pay]?”
“That’s why they have to come closer to our federation and support our initiative.” She enjoined them to seek bilateral relationship with the federation, so both parties will brainstorm on great ideas.

At the heart of the initiative, she said, they are proposing 200 shops, food market, [lumo] and an area where they will sell country-made produce. We are also proposing to have storage facilities, skills training centre facilities, clinic, day care, beauty shop, wholesale stores, clothing etc. “We started selling rice in collaboration with KGI. Very soon we will start partnering with importers that sell oil.”

“All this is as a result of helping women and creating more profitable business avenue for women or improving what they are already engage in. The proceeds realised will be reinvested back to women programmes and empowerment that are aim at augmenting the social status of women and meeting the MDGs.
Asked if there is any interest rate attached to it, she said theirs is more of a “social collateral”, with little if any interest rate.

Fatoumatta Jah, President to the Federation said they want to have a “microcredit for women”, because of the high interest rate of banks. She adds that theirs is 7% interest rate. However, taking into consideration the large number of horticultural producers coming from the rural area, Mrs Jah pointed that they are devising ways and means of making the market accessible to rural women, saying they are strategizing how to transport them with their goods to the market on regular basis.

Ramou Cole-Ceesay Permanent secretary (2) office of the vice-president said they will start of with constructing a food production and processing plant. “Most produce are highly perishable and there is hardly any outlet for marketing, as a result women end up selling produce at a very risky price [low priced].”
The creation of a large market of this kind, as she puts it, will help mend the situation, as they will craft linkages between major buyers, such as the hotels and other industries.

Asked if she foresees a situation of oligopoly- where sellers outnumber buyers, she responded in the negative, saying “hotels want quantity, noting that quality is one key point, but quantity on a continuous daily basis is another. We have a market locally, and Senegal comes year-round with trucks to buy Gambian produce. They come and buy in bulk, because they [commodities] are cheaper here [in Gambia].
“As long as the astronauts remained in space, Gambian

The need for Inusrance brookers

Patriot Insurance Brokers: The need for one
Out to provide ‘professional’ insurance service



Patriot Insurance Brokers Company Ltd, the latest broker to enter the insurance market as intermediary between insurers and the insuring public, is poised to provide services and products that will meet policy holders’ satisfaction while serving insurance entities professionally.

While the company’s mission sets on building “an efficient insurance service delivery system based on professionalism and commitment to integrity, sincerity, honesty, prudence and an uncompromising quality service delivery,” its strategic focus is to be a very reliable insurance broker in The Gambia.

“We have been able to achieve sustained, fruitful and cordial relationship between us, our clients and the insurer, borne largely out of our professionalism and technical expertise in the service of efficient service delivery,” says Ebrima Ceesay, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company.

Speaking to MarketPlace in his comfy head office at the Standard Chartered Building on 52 Kairaba Avenue, Mr Ceesay said: “The business of placing one’s insurance like any other organised commercial venture requires professionalism and the subject knowledge to gain the optimum there from.”

As the need for brokers to act as intermediaries between the policy holder and the insurer becomes more crucial, the patriotic brokers have came to roll out their professional service to all stakeholders.

Whilst the principal function of insurance is to give protection by making provision for loss of life and property as well as indemnify the policy holder in the event of a loss, the Patriot Brokers, as its name connotes, is out to ensure that claimants receive fair and appropriate settlement within the terms of the agreed policy.

“It is the duty of a broker to ensure that not only does he obtain the best terms for his clients but that in the event of a claim his client receives an equitable and satisfactory settlement within the terms of the policy has arranged,” Mr Ceesay, a seasoned insurance broker with over twenty-year experience, said.

Speaking on the importance of insurance in a country, Momodu Lamin S. Bah, Administrator and Finance Manager of the Patriot Brokers, said: “Insurance is said to be the handmaiden of commerce and industry and this is why it is described as a ‘business that exists to ensure the existence and survival of other businesses’.

“The insurance industry of any other country is closely tied up to the economy of that country. As it is widely believed and realised, no business can succeed without one form of insurance or another. By now we have all accepted that Insurance and business have co-existed since from time immemorial.”

He adds that as new insurance brokers, the Patriot functions as an “overseer” between the insurance companies and the insuring public, to ensure that both parties benefit on the ground of mutual understanding.

“The present large scale commercial and industrial activity in The Gambia has been made possible, to a large extent by the existence of an organised insurance system, by providing various classes of insurance such as fire insurance, motor insurance, etc.”

Products in the offing
The company has many products in the offing to cater for all categories of potential policy holders.

“We offer ‘Fire and allied perils’, which covers building, stock and content of offices against the risk of physical damage or destruction resulting from fire, lightening, explosion, flood, riot and strike, civil commotion, malicious damage etc,” Mr Bah said, adding: “We need the market value of the content to enable us provide quote and cover.”

The burglary insurance also indemnifies customers against the loss of properties as a result of theft, he says.

As cases of accident have become a common phenomenon, Patriot Brokers has designed ‘Personal Accident’ to provide capital sums for accidental death, injury, or disability including medical expenses.

The Insurance guru with a wealth of experience adds: “Weekly sums are payable for any period of up to 104 weeks in all when the insured is disabled from carrying on his usual business or occupation.”

The company’s All risk insurance covers practically every conceivable type of risk, which include such items as jewellery and gold., silver, watches, personal effects and other similar items or valuables.

He says the company also has products called Public Liability, Professional Indemnity.
Cash in transit/safe, and Fidelity Guaranty Insurance.

“Financial fraud or embezzlement by employee holding position of trust is on the increase,” Mr Bah said. “Fidelity Guaranty Insurance Policy is issued to employees guaranteeing the fidelity of his managers, secretary, collectors and other employees who are entrusted with the company’s money. The policy is to reimburse the employers against theft of their policy or stock by specified employee or employees if the policy is issued to cover them.”

The company also offers such policies as Motor Insurance, Consequential Loss, Driver’s Personal Accident, Bond, Contractor all Risk, Machinery Breakdown, Aviation, and Other Engineering Policies.

“With the experience we have with a range of insurance companies, we know some of their strengths and weaknesses and the best way to communicate with them,” he added.

Mr Bah commended the Insurance Association of The Gambia (IAG), for its just concluded week-long awareness campaign. He, however emphasised the need for an “Association of Insurance Brokers”, saying it will help to foster better understanding and cooperation among brokers in the country.

A well developed brokers’ association that works hand in glove with the IAG would help to foster a level-playing field for all stakeholders in the insurance industry, he says.

Ex-Minister's proposal on the table, beside Jammeh opening fire on him

GRA TASKS GTBANK WITH TAX, DUTY COLLECTION
Amat JENG

Guarantee Trust Bank has been entrusted the role of a revenue collector by one of Gambia’s fastest growing institutions- the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA). This is the first of its kind in the annals of the country’s public-private sector relations.

In a bid to boost its revenue collection activity more effectively with rapid response to the growing size of tax payers across the country, GRA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the GTbank, surfacing the way for tax payers to pay their taxes and duties payable to GRA at any of the GTbank’s 13 branches in the country.

Effective 3rd May, 2011taxpayers will be able to pay their taxes and duties at GTB’s branches through a GRA dedicated Teller Point manned by a GRA revenue collection process trained cashier.

Reacting to this giant development undertaken by the two institution, Bakary Sanyang, Commissioner General of GRA, said the process started three years ago, adding that the signing of the MoU marks the starting point of a six-week pilot project with the bank.

However, as the opportunities involved are vast, and that one bank alone would not be sufficient to man all GRA tax payers, the need for other banks to follow suit is in the offing, as he puts it “We have our taxpayers across the country and probably the expansion of one bank would not be sufficient to handle all GRA taxpayers, and we at GRA are calling on other banks in the country to come forward as early as possible to talk to the GRA IT [information technology] department on the matter [singing of an MoU].”

However, this development comes at a better time as much of growth in revenues has been on account of increase in duty and tax rates. As the former Finance minister puts it three months ago “since the establishment of the GRA, there has been a lot of emphasis on strengthening tax administration and improving tax collection.”

This shift is a boost for both institutions, as reforms at GRA are continuing with emphasis on improving its tax database, developing better internal controls, strengthening enforcement capacity and improving the utilisation of information and communication system.

This could be seen as part of the finance ministry’s commitment to tax administration measures to be implemented by GRA in the course of the year 2011. It is part of the commitment the ministry laid on the table during the start of this year. “[We are] exploring the possibilities of using commercial banks in tax collection with a view to facilitating faster collection and reconciliation of tax revenue collections.”

This kind of public-private sector collaboration in revenue collection has become the trend in most countries to improve their tax administration, especially the collection of the tax revenue,” Lekan Sanusi, MD GTB, said, before putting pen on paper.
He further described the signing as a key development in the history of public-private sector partnership, with a view to anbling the GRA to discharge its core mandate of revenue collection more effectively, while utilising a private sector channel to put convenience at the doorstep of taxpayers.

As bank, among the first banks to meet government requirements for banking, MD Sanusi said his bank is committed to make this scheme a success story for the country.
“GTB group has experience, as we have been collecting taxes and duties on behalf of the federal and state tax collection agencies in Nigeria for years.”

EU GIVES GAMBIA


European Commission Extends Largesse to Fisheries Sector


As part of its funded programme for strengthening of fisheries products health conditions in ACP and OCT countries (SFP), the European Commission (EC) donated material assistance to the Ministry of fisheries to support activities of the competent authority inspection services on control of the health standards of fishery products.

The material assistance was formally handed over by the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to the Gambia on behalf of EC to the Ministry of fisheries at a handing over ceremony on Wednesday 6 April, held at the fisheries department in Banjul.

Reacting to what he described as “a wonderful gesture, which symbolises the fruitful cooperation” that exists between the Gambia and EC, Nfamara Dampha, the Director of fisheries said: “The fisheries department is happy to receive these equipments and I will assure you that the materials will be used for the benefit of ensuring that fish and fishery products meet the required standards.”

The objective of providing the equipments is to support the Competent Authority (CA) in The Gambia in order to meet its activities and also addressing the issues of sanitary control of fish and fishery products. It will among other things, enable the CA to improve the control systems in the fish processing chain.

The items donated includes two vehicle, two motor bicycles, IT materials- 4 computers, 2 laptops, printers, fax machines, and some facilities to be worn for safety precaution at sea.
“There is no doubt that the intervention of the SFP programme to assist The Gambia fisheries sector has been very effective,” said Amadou Saine, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of fisheries and water resources.

Whilst he assures of continued commitment to ensuring effective sanitary control of the fish and fishery products, he underlined that the materials donated will be put in good use.

World Bank Supports Job Creation Scheme for Gambia

World Bank Supports Job Creation Scheme for Gambia

The Gambian government has continued with its onward march of creating job opportunities through various schemes and programmes. Our Banjul correspondent reports the recent World Bank supported scheme launched by the government to create job opportunities for Gambians, especially for those in the agriculture and tourism sectors.

With unemployment being one of the headaches of all governments around the world as the number of the unemployed continues to soar, giving rise to many upheavals in many countries, the Gambian government continues to accelerate its efforts at creating job opportunities for its citizens to ensure a sustainable livelihood for the people.

One of the ways it wants to promote this goal is through the setting up of sectoral projects to strategically tackle the unemployment phenomenon, such as the Gambia Growth and Competitiveness Project (GGCP) and the West Africa Agricultural Production Project (WAAPP) launched recently by the country’s president.

The GGCP, financed by the World Bank Group in the Agricultural sector to the tune of $12 million, is designed to promote the government’s growth and job creation agenda, especially in agribusiness and tourism.

The GGCP project seeks to address and contribute further to the development of agriculture through an out-grower scheme, whilst the WAAPP is principally intended to generate and accelerate the adoption of improved technologies in participating countries’ top agricultural commodity priority areas that are aligned with the sub-region’s top agricultural commodity priorities.

The total estimate for the two projects is in the region of US$24 million.

“I have noted with satisfaction, the increased visibility and scope of the [World] Bank Group operations in the country in terms of programming, portfolio size and resource envelop received within the last three years, and we welcome the positive reforms and development taking place at the Bank,” President Yahya Jammeh said at the recent launch of the projects.

In recent years, the World Bank has contributed significantly to building capacities of various institutions in The Gambia, as well as providing the necessary financial support to back up capacity and institutional strengthening.

The World Bank, together with government and key partners, is planning to bring to effectiveness the Budget support project, the Commercial and Agriculture and Value Chain, as well as the Energy Project and Telecom Project (ACE) which is at pre-appraisal stage and due to be implemented in three months’ time.

Agriculture has been the traditional pillar of the Gambian economy, contributing 26.2% of GDP in 2010 compares to 21.6% in 2007, and providing employment and income to the majority of Gambians.

The sector has witnessed a major transformation from traditional small holder subsistence farming to increasing levels of commercial green technology farming.”

However, since agriculture is the mainstay of the economy and having the greatest proportion of the country’s labour force, it needs adequate attention and support to tackle unemployment, food insecurity and poverty.

The GGCP and WAAPP are both timely, since they have been designed to respond and mitigate also the impact of food, fuel, and financial crises that have continued to hit world economies and livelihoods.

“The World Bank is expected to expeditiously finalise the pipeline projects, with full cooperation from government institutions and officials to work closely and actively with the Bank’s officials within the set timelines for the successful completion of the projects,” President Jammeh said.

The Africa Coast to Europe Project, the Budget Support Operations, the Energy Project and the Commercial Agriculture and Value Chain Projects form some of the pipeline projects to be implemented.

Reiterating his government’s commitment to private sector-led growth, President Jammeh says he recognizes the private sector’s role as an engine of growth and, therefore, will work closely with the sector operators through the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Regional Integration, and the GCCI, to ensure the business environment is always conducive to facilitate private sector growth, employment creation and poverty reduction.

In many facets of the business corridor, government works closely with the GCCI by mandating it to act as intermediary between government and the private sector; thus creating the avenue for Gambian business operators to thrive at the national and international markets.

This was manifested recently when the GCCI convened a meeting with key business personnel to reach a food matrix point on prices, in order to ensure a level-playing field for consumers and producers.

“The project’s high level objective is to contribute towards sustaining the growth of The Gambian economy and enhancing poverty reduction through private sector-led growth,” Finance Minister Mamburay Njie said.

“Its key expected outcomes are investment climate reforms to reduce the entry barriers and operating costs of businesses, enhance access to finance and private investment flows, and improve business performance, especially for firms in the tourism and hospitality sectors and linkages between small producers and domestic and international market.”

Carlos Cavalcanti, World Bank’s senior economist in The Gambia, made these remarks as regards the project: “We have always said that the state is our biggest partner, and as such, it constitutes the focus of our development intervention, especially in the areas of its financial, social and productive sectors.

“It is therefore imperative that we invest in institutions, systems and sectors that move the development of the country, hence interventions such as the Growth and Competitiveness Project and the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Project.”

He added: “It is truism that agriculture is a dominant economic sector in ECOWAS, but its low productivity seriously erodes the competitiveness of African products on world and domestic markets.

“WAAPP may thus be viewed as part of a larger commitment by the World Bank to assist countries to enhance long-term food availability by providing mix of support for short-term supply responses and sustainable medium and longer-term investments for increased agricultural productivity.”