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Momodou
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 Posted - 13 Feb 2008 : 21:45:14
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Manufacturers Call For Government Protection
By Amie Sanneh
The Association of Gambia Manufactureras (AGM) has called on the government to protect the manufacturing industry by coming up with a policy to ensure that products made in the Gambia are not imported into the country.
In an exclusive interview with Foroyaa, the President of the Association, Mohammed Sillah, who is also the Managing Director of Sankung Sillah and Sons, said if a restriction is imposed on goods from countries like China, Senegal, etc then the country will be industrialized in the next 15 to 20 years.
As to why the Association has come into being, Mr. Sillah said they have come together to give a voice to a very important sector, which is manufacturing; that their members now have recognised and are quite conscious of the urgent need for industrial development in The Gambia.
On the challenges faced by the Association, he pointed out that they are facing financial and energy difficulties at the moment.
Mr. Sillah noted that recently the Gambia manufacturing sector is probably paying the highest rate in energy and want to have dialogue with government. On finance, he said, they will dialogue with financial institutions so as to provide services and products to them.
Regarding the regional market, he said the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) enables members to export their goods into the sub-regional market without paying dues and that some companies, including his, are having access.
This he said will enable the manufacturing industry to grow and expand at the level of the ECOWAS market which, he said, has a population of 250 million.
Commenting on how the manufacturing industry operates in the Gambia, Mr. Sillah revealed that there is no availability of raw materials in the country; that they (manufacturers) normally import raw materials and then convert them to finished products which they later sell. This he said does not matter, but it can have an impact on prices. He, however, said that the government is encouraging them by giving incentives, such as duty waivers, but that they are not exempted from paying taxes.
The President of the Manufacturing Association said all the manufacturing industries have great potentials and can do more if they expand. The more they invest, the more they can do more, he said. Mr. Sillah added that if the manufacturing industrial base is expanded, it will increase employment, noting that there is a high unemployment rate in the country. This he noted is the reason why they want to dialogue with the government and all the stakeholders in order for them to add their input in vision 2020 to work towards an industrialized country.
The association, he said, which consists of 19 members at the moment, is calling on non members to join. He quickly added that Gambians are good in coming together to form associations. Mr. Sillah pointed out that they can be stronger by coming together to push forward for the development of the country. “We are working towards the development of the manufacturing industry, the more people we have, the more voices we have,” he said. Mr. Sillah added that the association will continue to work together for the development of the country which they are doing at the moment.
Mr. Sillah urged Gambians to buy Gambian made products to secure the jobs of Gambians. He said that in 10 to 20 years time, with a vibrant economy in place, many people will be employed.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 19/2008, 13 -14 February 2008
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