The honorable Minister of Agriculture has told the government to do more and invest in the sector for economic development.
Omar Jallow made these remarks at the opening ceremony of a two-day International Agricultural Investment forum at a local hotel in Senegambia.
The event was organised by the Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency, (GIEPA) in collaboration with the Gambia Commercial and Value Management project, (GCAV) and the National Agriculture Land and Water Management project (NEMA) for the first time in the Gambia.
And the minister said innovation investment is crucial for Agricultural transformation, wealth creation and long-term prosperity in Africa.
“Despite annual public investment in Agriculture heavily rising across Africa, only 13 African countries have honoured their pledge to invest at least 10 percent of public funds in Agriculture as foreseen under the Maputo Declaration of 2003.”
The minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment Isatou Touray, described the forum as “imperative in our drive as a nation towards national food self-sufficiency, export development and overrall socio-economic development of the Gambia.”
Minister Touray averred: “The need for further support towards building a coherent agriculture sector is even more pressing, amidst government’s strategic objective to transform the National Economy from a Net-importing economy to a net exporter whilst ensuring food self-sufficiency and affordable food commodity pricing.”
Organisers said the forum is a platform created for investors, both domestic and international to get to know each other and discuss possible areas of collaboration.
It is also expected to provide an avenue for businesses to be introduced to opportunities directly from the authorities and agencies in the Gambia.
