The Gambia on Friday joined the rest of Africa to observe the 20th anniversary of UN Africa Industrialisation Day, at a ceremony held at the conference hall of the Independence Stadium in Bakau. This year’s theme is:Industrialisation for integration.

November 20th was set aside by the UN General Assembly in 1989 as the Africa Industrialisation Day. This day is celebrated every year and it aims at  encouraging African countries to build, nurture and inculcate the spirit of industrial development as part and parcel of their development objectives. The day also highlights the importance of industrial development as the engine of growth towards achieving effective, efficient and sustainable development of any given country throughout the world.

The November 20th programme at the Independence Stadium marked the first anniversary of the event in The Gambia and it coincided with the fourth edition of the just concluded GCCI trade fair. The event was characterised by presentation of series of papers on the theme of the day. The trade fair organised by The Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, brought together both local and international participants.
Janice James, economic adviser to the UN System in The Gambia, who deputised for the UN System co-ordinator in The Gambia, presented a message from the UN Secretary General in observance of the day. She explained to the audience that the African economy like the rest of the world continues to feel the impact of global economic and financial crisis. According to her, the UN figures indicated that the world economy is poised for recovery, adding that for Africa to benefit, the continent must focus on industrialisation as a critical engine of economic growth and development.

 The UN System economic adviser in The Gambia further remarked that industrialisation will help Africa to increase its share of global output. She observed that Africa’s  pursuit of industrialisation is hindered by many challenges including armed conflict, inadequate  infrastructure, limited financing and technological capabilities as well as domestic policies that stifle entrepreneurship, limited competition and raise the cost of doing business. “Efforts to address these challenges must be rooted in a shared global responsibility for our planet’s prosperity. Indeed there is great industrial potential in the emergence of a new green economic paradigm. African leaders must provide a supportive regulatory and financial framework for such changes to gain strength. 

The international community must work with African governments and institutions to do the research, make investments and deploy the technologies for a climate- resilient, low- carbon growth path, one that will feed Africa’s growing population and raise living standards by building the industries of the future. Industrialisation can drive positive social change,” she said. She then urged people, especially Africans to reaffirm commitments towards industrialisation, integration and make efforts to create prosperous future for Africa and the world at large.

Moda C Secka, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Employment, who deputised for Yusupha Kah, minister of Trade, Industry and Employment, highlighted The Gambia government’s commitment through series of programmes and policies undertaken, all geared towards building and strengthening the industrial sector of the country. He cited the Development Act of The Gambia from early 1970s to 1980s and the recent establishment of GIPFZA Act of 2001, identification of Kanifing Industrial Area , formation of  Association of Gambian Manufacturers and the unprecedented increase in industrial sector among others as chief amongst the giant strides made by The Gambia.

The Trade, Industry and Employment PS said that the Association of Gambian Manufacturers deserve commendation for their reaction to the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, an initiative in which, from 2006 to date, a total of thirteen Gambian companies and businesses  have received approval to export their products  duty free within the sub-region. Mam Cherno Jallow, chief executive officer of The Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry also spoke extensively about the country’s commitment towards industrial development and the role played by GCCI in the socio-economic development of the country.

Professor Alasana Keita of the University of The Gambia (UTG), delivered a lecture on the theme of the day by making reference to success stories registered by other developed and developing countries throughout the world drawing case study on  the four Asian tigers. The presentations were followed by question and answer session.