The five-day training workshop  funded by GAMJOBS is taking  place at the President International Awards Scheme in Bakau. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mambajick Njie, permanent secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports said, NEDI was established to help women and youths with funds  to start  small retail business so as to achieve the countries development goals. He  added that in order to achieve this objective, they need to stand by our youths and women.  He also said that it is critical that the people do ask themselves why foreigners  dominated the business sector; noting it is high time that they stand by Gambians to dominate this important sector. 

PS Njie also gave advice to people who took loans telling them that, the loans should be paid back in time so that it can be given to others in need.. He reminded them that they should work very hard to avoid the fall of their businesses. For his part, Malang Nyassi, the National Coordinator of GAMJOBS said, the priority of GAMJOBS is to create an enabling environment for employment in partnership with others like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and some other donors much especially the Spanish government. 

He noted that, as part of GAMJOBS 2009 annual work programme is to provide support for the establishment of a number of micro, small and medium enterprises.  "NEDI was one of the institutions identified for the implementation of some of this activities". He said. Nyassi further challenged the trainees to be serious with the course so that they can establish profitable business enterprises.