By Olimatou Coker
The Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) over the weekend concluded a week’s Training of Trainers on Start Your Business (SIYB) and Generate Your Business Idea (GYBI).
The training was conducted at the GCCI offices in Kerr Jula, in collaboration with the Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) and International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Speaking, Mrs Julie Kazagui, a senior specialist from the ILO, said the labour organisation is supporting the GCCI to effectively and sustainably deliver SIYB training and related activities to entrepreneurs.
“Through participation in that training programme, potential entrepreneurs will be able to start their small businesses while existing entrepreneurs will be able to develop and strengthen their basic management skills for better performance and profitability, while creating jobs in the process,” she noted.
According to her, the ILO has helped build or strengthen business development services organisations for small and medium sized enterprises in more than 100 countries, through a wide range of tools for business management training and the development for business support services.
“The largest ILO programme of its kind is the SIYB programme, which has trained more than 12 million people over the past six years, not including China, and generated the creation of about 4 million companies and about 11 million new jobs”
She reported that the first phase of the Training of Trainers was carried out in August 2018, by two senior and highly experienced SIYB master trainers.
“We hope that they will raise a strong interest and that, consequently, an active and sustainable SIYB network will be established in The Gambia, as in many other countries in the world, thanks to the leadership of GCCI.
Through an MoU to be signed with the ILO, GCCI will have the responsibility of coordinating SIYB activities in The Gambia and to maintain the high quality standards of the programme,” she said.
Ebrima Barry, second vice president of GCCI, said the plan is for these trainers to train 36 prospective entrepreneurs.
“This training is part of the ILO project titled Employment Creation for Youth to Build Sustainable Peace in The Gambia, and is funded by the government of Japan.”
He said the project will empower young prospective entrepreneurs to create a business career for themselves.
“I will therefore seize this opportunity on behalf of the president of GCCI, board and management and staff, and on my own behalf, to thank the government of Japan for funding this training programme”.
