The Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) during the recently concluded India-Africa Conclave held in New Delhi, a press release from the Chamber stated.

According to the release, the GCCI treasurer, Fatou Sinyan-Mergan, signed the MoU on behalf of the Chamber. It added that the chief executive officer of the GCCI, Almami Fanding Taal attended the conclave and training programme jointly funded by the government of India and Confederation of Indian Industry. “The GCCI continues to strengthen its links with the international business communities with the objective of growing Gambian businesses for the socio-economic development of the Gambia,” it stated.

The memorandum of understanding, according to the release, provides agreements such as enhancing economic relations and proposes to the respective governments, measures and mechanisms to promote exports on the basis of mutual interests, to avoid any imbalances which may affect the relationships between Gambia and lndia.

Other agreements, it added are: “To continue to develop-exchange of economic information between the two institutions; to organize trade missions and to cooperate through the organization of conferences, symposia and other forms of trade events for the promotion of trade, industry and services of lndia; to participate and cause traders to participate in trade fairs and exhibitions; encourage reciprocal visits of businessmen and professionals and help visitors and businessmen in both directions, obtain the most appropriate business contracts; to establish a regular consultation programmw between officials of both institutions on trade, industrial issues and services.”

As part of the implementation of this agreement, the release further stated, the two institutions shall undertake to provide mutual institutional support, the methods of which shall be mutually agreed. “The business community therefore should leverage on this agreements and forge possible partnership which is one of the best ways to grow businesses,” it concluded.