By Olimatou Coker
The Gambia Youth Chamber of Commerce has recently celebrated its 4th anniversary since its establishment in January 2017.
Speaking in a phone interview, Mr Baboucarr Kebbeh, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), said: “Four years ago today, young entrepreneurs converged to establish the GYCC with passion and dedication and with a common goal to raise the youth voices in businesses across all facets of economic development of young people.”
He said its goals also included providing meaningful opportunities and services to its members especially rural youth and as well market opportunities.
“Today we have established a functional office with 5 staff, 6 regional chapters and a total registered members of over 300 businesses with 65% from the rural Gambia and 80% young women,” he stated.
According to CEO Kebbeh, they have created a pool of entrepreneurs and launched the first ever regional and national youth trade fair, a platform to show what Gambian youth have to offer.
He added that they have collectively boosted the confidence government and international partners on youth and after 4yrs, “we got 12 corporate partners working with us to support youth business.”
He thanked their founding fathers and national institutions such as NYC and NEDI for standing by them during those moments.
“Special thanks to International Trade Centre (ITC) for being the first partner that believed in us and gave us funding to kick start.
“Our sincere appreciation to former NYC and NEDI bosses (Lamin Darboe and Landing Sanneh) for all the guidance and support to the realisation of these dreams.”
