The National Business Council on Friday June launched the Business Environment Reform programme at a meeting held at the State House.
This council, comprising ‘pertinent’ government ministries and representatives of the private sector operators was launched in response to the National Development Plan of better positioning the private sector as engine of the country’s economic growth, State House said on Friday.
Speaking on behalf of the President who is the chair of the country, the Vice President Dr Isatou Touray expressed delight of government that these business environment reform process is ongoing in spite of the impacts of the Covid 19 pandemic on the country, according to State House.
“Covid 19 affects us all but business must go on and the private sector is the engine of economic growth for us as stipulated in the National Development Plan,” Vice President said in her opening remarks, according to State House’s state.
Edrisa Mass Jobe, Chairman of the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry emphasised that the long-time adage of private sector being “engine of economic growth” need to move beyond words to practical implementation of programmes by government in order to concretise such an achievement, State House said.
“The private sector can only do well if allowed by government. Hence the need to interface and work together with the sector creating employment, contributing to poverty alleviation and national development through providing needed revenue to government for financing social development,” he posited, according to State House.
The meeting ended with adoption of the report and launching the reform, which will begin from July towards December 2020 – with each month dedicated to a key sector.
The vice president, Dr. Isatou Touray has been appointed “Political Champion” of the council, a position expected to bring much needed political will to the partnership.
