Barrow assure women D5M annually

The President of The Gambia Adama Barrow told the women leaders that women’s advancement and empowerment are integral to his government’s development plan, which the NDP 2018-2021 – will provides for the allocation of D5 million annually to an entrepreneurship fund to promote women’s economic empowerment.

The Senegalo-Gambian Network of Women Entrepreneurs and Leaders paid a courtesy call on the President at the State House on Wednesday to discuss the vision and mission of their organization as well as the challenges they face in facilitating trade between the two countries and beyond.

According to stated house media, President Barrow encouraged the women to be more innovative in their approach as successful entrepreneurship requires more in the current economic realities. The President promised that the officials would look into the hassles and delays at border crossings to minimize the associated vices. He added that his dream and that of President Sall is to have a borderless Senegambia.

“I assure you my government committed to creating the enabling environment in the sub-region for women to thrive in commerce. When women move forward, society moves along with them. Women are integral to the transformation process of the new Gambia. President Sall and I are committed to taking this Senegal-Gambia relation at all levels,” President Barrow said.

The group organized themselves to support its members from both countries in areas of trade, entrepreneurship and trainings. The women also run micro-finance schemes. They conduct exchange programmes with the support of various business chambers in Banjul and Kaolack.

Saida Musu Koro Mbye, President of the Senegambia Women Network said for the dream of unity to be realised, free movement of goods and persons across borders must be encouraged by authorities.

She also revealed that the network has already identified 100 women from each country for training in crafts, processing, storage, and marketing strategies.

Director of Women’s Bureau, Fanta Bai Secka, seized the opportunity to advocate for a 30% women’s representation at all decision making levels in line with the UN recommendations and appealed for women to contribute effectively in national development.