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SUMMARY
I get pleasure from touring round West Africa, particularly round culturally wealthy areas mixing nature with fashionable infrastructural developments. Each my air and street travels round this ECOWAS subregion within the final 15 years has been each instructive and enriching for me. I’ve been culturally immersed with variety in languages, faith, tradition, meals, structure, local weather, financial life, natural world.
The data acquired, can’t be quantified in financial phrases, and i’ll advocate this academic excursions to our youths to allow them respect and tolerate different cultures, thus decreasing conflicts and disputes amongst neighboring nations. Some other place, i’ve written and held a number of seminars on working and dwelling in Ghana about 11 years in the past.
In the present day, the success story of Ghana is obvious to all and this nation Ghana, has emerged as among the finest economies within the subregion. Once more, i’m introducing one other rising nice financial system to you, The Gambia.
Earlier than the entire world flood right here, and you will be neglected, why not take my advise critically and make investments, work, dwell or vacation on this lovely nation to expertise what I am speaking about? I like this peaceable nation blessed with hospitable individuals. Gambians welcome you with pure inspiring smiles. The Gambia is bounded spherical by an historic river, wealthy in pure assets of sea meals, animals and therapeutic powers. Welcome to The Gambia, the smiling coast of West Africa.
From the pure great thing about Makasutu Village, historic websites of Kunta Kinteh village, James Island, Kachikally Crocodile pool, Kanilai Farm, and so many different websites to the seashores and folks, you’ll hardly need to go away. Little surprise, there are such a lot of repeat vacationers coming to The Gambia for the previous 10-15 years that I’ve met. They arrive from throughout Europe, Americas, Asia and Africa. On the seaside, the fantastic thing about the Sea, the sand and solar will remind you of Mom Africa.
How in regards to the funding local weather, very favorable and investor pleasant.With a steady financial system with a single digit inflation price and foreign money alternate of US$1.0= GMD26 (As at ninth April, 2010). The Gambia is a multicultural nation with numerous immigrants from West Africa, Europe, America, Center East and Asia completely dwelling as traders, working with a number of NGOs, some retired traders whereas many others are engaged in importation companies and owned a number of purchasing malls.The Gambia is dwelling to traders, volunteers, professionals pursuing their profession, and vacation makers who has made this peaceable nation their vacation spot. Welcome to The Gambia, the place there isn’t a discrimination based mostly on faith, creed, shade, race, gender, social standing, incapacity and with zero tolerance to corruption. Learn on! Alsamadeh!
MARKET
The key markets are in Banjul, Serrekunda and Brikama. Right here, you’ll be able to store for staple meals like fish, meat, greens, clothings, jeweleries and trend equipment. The locals welcome individuals with pure smiles after exchanging the spiritual greetings: “Asalamalekun”, that means, peace be unto you. Historically, Gambian girls go to market every day to purchase what to prepare dinner.They are often seen with the plastic baskets with holders thronging to the busy markets to buy contemporary fish, meat, greens and take time to greet one another asking after every others’ households, relations and get up to date about present social occasions and different girls gossips. A few of the elites, nonetheless, want to buy in purchasing malls round Kairaba Avenue, and purchase meals in massive portions to retailer at dwelling.
Mini-markets, or what some name supermarkets are everywhere in the Larger Banjul space competing with the normal markets. There are additionally the neighborhood outlets, known as “Fulah Shops”, owned principally by Mauritanian residents and in some instances by Guineans. That is the place to get the domestically made bread known as, “Tapalapa”. That is often an extended banana formed clay oven baked bread that’s often transported on bicycles by the suppliers early within the morning, mid-day and sundown time. I want shopping for this, when contemporary, it is smooth and extra interesting than the stale hardened and uninviting ones. A full one goes for D5 and the half is D2.50. The bread is often offered with a pleasant unfold of butter, mayonnaises, egg, potato and spiced with jumbo or Maggi sauce relying on the client’s preferences.
There may be additionally “Senfu”, which has a crumb nature and less expensive, being offered for D3 for a full roll. Nonetheless, i seen the “Senfu” will not be as filling because the “Tapalapa” that may preserve me going for the entire day, like a bowl of “Fufu”, which is the energiser for many Nigerians, Ghanaians and Sierra- Leoneans in The Gambia. The native “Fufu” not like those present in Ghana and Nigeria are made out of “Saddam Rice”, as it’s known as domestically, by milling it into powder and cooked right into a strong paste in a pot. The most well-liked lunch meal, amongst Gambians, is the jollof rice, domestically known as ” Benechin”. Various kinds of stew are ready to eat the rice meal like”Plasas”, “Super ganja”, “Damoda”,and so on. I benefit from the Gambia breakfast meal of “Thura Girthe”, which may be very wealthy in protein. It is a combination of properly pounded rice cooked with milled groundnut and eaten with a selection of yogurt “Sour Milk”.
Gambians eat collectively. Small teams of between 5-8 individuals are often seen consuming from the identical bowl, and but, when a customer seems, she or he is beakoned to nonetheless be a part of them and share out of it. That is the real love, i am but to see anyplace. For those who assume there isn’t a free meal anyplace, you are mistaken; come to The Gambia! This clarify the explanation for very low or non-existent crime price. At the very least, a lunch meal is assured for anybody dwelling in The Gambia. Meals is shared, nobody goes dwelling hungry. The ladies additionally waste numerous meals by at all times making ready lots anticipating guests to hitch them when serving their meals. They bundle the rice meals in massive huge bowls with a canopy and wrap it in a conventional method with fabric, that can safe the meals from spilling and carry to their husbands at their respective working locations for them to eat with colleagues. Typically, they go journey lengthy distances, to ship the meals, like a household dwelling in Lamin and the husband working in Serrekunda.
WORK HOURS
The official working hours is 8am- 4pm from Monday to Thursday. Friday is half day. Most of Gambians are Muslims, and so they go for the Friday Particular prayers within the afternoon. Though, the “African time” idea continues to be prevalent among the many individuals, that is widespread with the federal government staff, the personal sector is healthier. Most severe enterprise appointments begin from 9am, regardless that, they’re scheduled for 8am.
The key cause generally for arriving at work late, may be on account of unavailability of business autos to move staff to their respective locations of labor. Even, at locations of labor, Gambians don’t forget to take their Chinese language natural tea known as ” Atire”.
GAME OF FOOTBALL
A primary time customer, to The Gambia will assume the sport of soccer has it is origin from right here, due to the love and keenness hooked up to this recreation. There are fairly quite a lot of playgrounds which can be by no means stored idle due to the teeming youths that religiously prepare and play every day matches, particularly within the evenings after work or faculty. Equally, on weekends, very first thing within the morning, you’ll discover everybody exercising or enjoying the sport they love most; soccer.
The discussions of most of those youths that represent half of the nation’s inhabitants is centered on the European matches. Groups like Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester Metropolis, Arsenal, Barcelona, Actual Madrid, AC Milan and different massive groups have passionate followers in The Gambia.
There are various Soccer Viewing facilities which can be making a fortune displaying the dwell matches to most Gambian. Though, a few of these youths won’t know the capital of Nigeria, they usually inform me it is Lagos, however they definitely know all of the European Membership Managers, first line ups and transfers of those key gamers, to not discuss in regards to the newest scores within the premiership or championship.
The Gambia’s nationwide workforce, known as the “Scorpion” is adored and also you dare not say something dangerous in opposition to this workforce so as to not incur the wrath of my soccer lovers. A loss in recreation when “Scorpions” play, will flip your entire nation right into a grave yard, “a mourning period”. However with a win; the Brazilian samba dancers will envy the dance steps of each the younger girls and boys singing: “ho, ho ho ho, ha,ha,ha,ha..haleyomii”. Subsequently, to make associates with Gambians is really easy, simply choose up a soccer subject!
BEACHES
The weather conditions of The Gambia is barely completely different from different ECOWAS nations. There is just one cycle of rainfall which begins round June and ends round October. It’s often sizzling in the course of the raining durations, not like different nations that have chilly durations.
The Hamattan interval begins from November to February. Nonetheless, the climate experiences erratic adjustments generally. The seashores are clear and supply succor to visiting vacationers that need to expertise the fantastic thing about the solar, the ocean and the sand of The Gambia.
There are a number of seashores to go to. From Banjul seaside to Palma Rima, Senegambia and as much as Sanyang. There are such a lot of personal seashores alongside this line. Most white vacationers known as “Toubabs” are often welcome at these seashores which have engaging conventional bars with pure juice, canned drinks, barbecue and particular packages for guests.
The menace of “bumsters” have been curtailed and there are vacationer police patrolling many of the busy seashores to discourage the “unsolicited friends”. The seashores are besieged by virtually all Gambians throughout festive durations or throughout main musical live shows or reveals.
FESTIVE PERIODS
A customer arriving The Gambia round Easter or Christmas will assume all Gambians are Christians, with the celebration and partying. Equally, across the Muslim festivals of “Koriteh or Tobaski” will give one the impression that there isn’t a single Christian on the town.
That is the sweetness and variety of the Gambian hospitality and tolerance of different religions in The Gambia. The individuals get pleasure from good music. The native artists are adored, a few of whom are Jalibah Kuyateh, Titi Kololi, Freakie Joe, Asan Njie, Olugander and Sambou to say a number of.
The ladies, each younger and previous, get pleasure from dancing. The very bodily dances of leaping and kicking the air is widespread and that i usually surprise the place the ladies get the additional power and energy from. Some younger males that aren’t used to those dances, dare not problem these girls in a dancing competitors, if they don’t need to be hospitalized.
The leisure trade is subsequently very vibrant. Most individuals chill out by watching Nigerian, Senegalese and Ghanaian dwelling movies. There are a number of video rental outlets to select the newest Nigerian movies from. A lot of the banks and motels present international channels like DSTV, CNN, AlJAZEERA, EUROSPORT and so on.
PAID WORK IN THE GAMBIA
Aside from ECOWAS nationals, which can be allowed to work freely in some key authorities sectors like Training and Judiciary, different nationals are solely allowed to work as expatriate and must undergo a scrutiny and get approval from the immigration division, earlier than they are often permitted to work with the federal government.
Nonetheless, traders are allowed to usher in their work drive, supplied they abide by the immigration legal guidelines of acquiring a piece/residential allow. Openings exist all yr spherical for certified academics in Senior secondary colleges everywhere in the nation.
A lot of the vacancies are often stuffed by Nigerians, Ghanaians, Senegalese, Sierra-Leoneans, Liberians and a handful of different ECOWAS nationals. Openings additionally exist for lecturers in College of The Gambia, a number of skilled coaching institutes and different tertiary institutes like Administration Improvement Institute (MDI), Gambia Faculty and Gambia Technical Coaching Institute (G.T.T.I).
Though, the personal institutes remuneration is greater than the federal government pay scale. A lot of the secondary colleges within the provinces are in want of academics, most academics quite want to switch to the city cities leaving the agricultural villages with out certified educating drive.
Authorities backed colleges remuneration bundle for non-Gambian academics are between D3,500-D4,000 per shift (Morning or afternoon) relying on the entry degree expertise and qualification. The personal colleges pay between D4,500-D10,000, relying on the varsity and expertise of the instructor.
Most faculties want academics which have gathered “Gambian experience”, that means, they will need to have taught in The Gambia for some years to grasp the system. Combining each shifts means extra earnings. Most authorities colleges want to pay full wage for the morning shift and half wage for the afternoon shift. There are different a number of alternatives of earnings incomes, by organizing examine courses for the scholars after shut of college by some academics. Most academics usually change faculty to these paying extra, and each time period witnesses a mass drift of academics round.
The coveted colleges are: Marina Worldwide, SBEC, Zenith, SOS, Scanaid and West African Worldwide. Linguistics and sciences are the popular topics usually in excessive demand. English language, English Literature, Arithmetic, Additional Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Agric Science, Utilized Electrical energy and so on, are “hot cake” topics for most colleges.
ECOWAS certified academics (M.Sc, B.Sc & HND holders within the topics listed above) are often being employed in secondary colleges in The Gambia.
Different professionals wanted to work within the personal sectors are:
1. Attorneys with LL.b diploma which have efficiently accomplished Legislation faculty and known as to Bar to work as
Magistrates/Judges with the Ministry of Justice.
2. Skilled Graphic & Web site Designers.
3. Skilled Advertisers.
4. Desktop & Laptop computer Restore Technicians.
5. Vehicle Technicians.
6. Theater Arts & Dramatic artists.
7. Movie Administrators & Producers.
8. Skilled Actors & Actresses.
9. Radio & T.V Programme Presenters.
10. Fish Breeding & Farming
11. Aquarium Making & Gold Fish Rearing.
12. Management Improvement Trainers.
13. Trainers in distinctive expertise & vocations.
14. Cottage Business set-up trainers ( Physique lotions, soaps, cartons, shoe polish and so on.)
The monetary trade has witnessed an outstanding progress with addition of extra banks becoming a member of the league not too long ago, bringing the whole variety of banks to 14 in The Gambia. Most of those Nigerian banks are opening up branches and can want extra workers.
Though, it’s far cheaper to rent the locals than expatriate by the banks, due to the particular tax paid for not hiring Gambians. The identical rule applies to the Lodge and Tourism trade. The Non Governmental Organizations, NGOs are allowed to usher in their personnel.
Volunteers are additionally welcome in The Gambia. Volunteers can have a cultural immersion and acquire worldwide expertise on this peaceable nation. For vacation makers, i’ll advocate visiting this small however distinctive nation for these seeking a Peaceable, Inexpensive and Memorable African Retreat (PAMAR!)
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
1. ECOWAS CITIZENS
The federal government welcome funding in all sectors, particular consideration is, nonetheless, given to Agriculture due to the significance of meals safety to any nation. Different sectors like Actual Property & Properties, Mining Business, Lodge & Tourism, Well being, Training, Manufacturing and Agro- allied Sectors are key areas to enter and get authorities incentive, in tax aid and complete help.
ECOWAS residents get pleasure from free motion of individuals and items throughout the 16 nations block, the required capital wanted to re-locate to the Gambia to work, dwell, make investments or vacation is way lower than what’s required to quiet down in different ECOWAS nations. With the electrical energy tariffs coming down (because of the federal government initiative), NAWEC, the electrical energy firm is doing her finest to ensure steady provide of electrical energy and plenty of companies solely depend on this steady electrical energy provide.
Incidences of armed theft assault are very uncommon. I’ve not seen or witness or hear about armed theft assaults within the final six years. I solely learn in one of many newspapers, one or two instances, about such assaults within the provinces some few years in the past. Folks transfer about with out concern of molestation or assault. Petty cell phone theft are often widespread.
The residential homes are inexpensive, and rents of 1 to 3 months advance funds, are demanded. The individuals are heat and hospitable. For as little as D500 per thirty days, a room may be rented across the busy areas like Brikama, Latrikunda, Lamin,Tabokoto, Wellingara and Coastal street areas.
The two-bed room residences with all of the conveniences goes for between D1,500-D2,500 per thirty days in these areas relying on the completed style and proximity to the busy highways. ECOWAS residents can enter and settle within the nation with alternatives to start out small companies.
For these smart residents within the nation, there are a number of companies to select from and do effortlessly on this funding pleasant nation. Anybody coming to The Gambia for the primary time, should to start with plan and put together, realizing what to do and the place to remain and having ample details about the tradition and enterprise local weather.
2. WORLDWIDE INVESTORS ( MEDIUM/ LARGE SCALE BUSINESSES)
The precise areas, smart traders, can rush into to speculate presently, from our detailed analysis findings are:
A) Establishing a personal College with residential campus to draw all ECOWAS residents.
B) Eateries like MacDonald’s, Rooster George, Mr. Briggs, Candy Sensation, Tantalizers, TFC, and so on
C) Botanical Backyard/ Love Backyard across the Vacationer areas.
D) Constructing low Value Properties to be offered or rented out to individuals.
E) Floor nut processing manufacturing facility.
F) Feed Mill for Poultry, Rabbitry and Turkey Manufacturing.
G) Cashew Processing Manufacturing facility (CNS Oil, brake oil, glue, rubber,electrical wires and so on).
H) Pure Juice canning manufacturing facility ( Fruits like mangoes, orange, lime and so on abound).
I) Contemporary Flower manufacturing and export.
J) Fish Canning/ Meals packaging for export.
There are different 90 companies we’ve got surveyed to be potential immediate cash earners for smart traders to tackle. Kindly request for an in depth undertaking profile on this. The Gambia Funding Promotion and Free Zones Company, (GIPFZA) welcome traders with distinctive affords of tax aid, authorities help and non-bureaucratic processing of vital paperwork to permit for fast set-up and funding in The Gambia.
To have a good thought of the enterprise local weather, i like to recommend that every one potential traders learn the newest enterprise listing (The Gambia Enterprise Listing).
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT & BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
The Gambia, although small, however has a strong financial system with fourteen industrial banks, 4 GSM corporations, a great variety of airways plying the subregion and the skin world. There are greater than 5 every day newspapers, round eight radio stations and plenty of motels of worldwide requirements together with the 5-star Sheraton Lodge.
The key roads from the airport to most busy industrial facilities like Kairaba, Brufut, West Area, Senegambia, Brikama, Latrikunda and Banjul are all tarred with properly lighted avenue lights. Clear, contemporary and handled pipe borne water is accessible to most properties 24hrs uninterrupted.
Communication and web companies are fairly cheaper than most different nations. The price of beginning a enterprise in The Gambia is way cheaper each within the quick time period and long run. The true property enterprise is having fun with an excellent growth with 30% return yearly on investments, and the Meltdown phenomenon will not be simply noticeable in The Gambia.
The Gambia is a vacationer vacation spot and repeated guests are widespread on this fantastic and peace loving smiling coast of The Gambia. Though, The Gambia is a tax based mostly financial system, the federal government makes substantial earnings from Tourism and exportation of agricultural commodities like Groundnut, Fishes, Cotton and strong minerals.
It’s obligatory for each resident to have a TIN quantity(Tax Identification Quantity) earlier than a checking account may be opened. New buildings are developing every day and it is not uncommon sight,to see many of the property homeowners promoting their cellphone contacts for these curious about renting or leasing these properties from excessive rise buildings in Senegambia axis, Kairaba, Fajara, West Area, Tallinding, Tabokoto, Abuko, Lamin, Yundum and so on.
Gambians in diaspora are speeding dwelling to speculate on this excessive yielding property sector. A customer that final visited the nation a yr in the past, will discover a exceptional distinction on this infrastructural developments. The Gambia is a clear nation, particularly with the introduction of the month-to-month cleansing workout routines, known as “SETSETAL”, which is a particular cleansing day for everyone on the final Saturday of the month between the hours of 8-1pm and thereafter there may be free motion.
Municipal officers go round to make sure the wastes are correctly disposed and guarantee compliance to the legislation, that every one outlets and companies most be closed and no motion of business autos, till the tip of the cleansing train.
Well being smart, it’s protected to dwell in The Gambia, as a result of the well being supply system may be very environment friendly and properly outfitted with the most effective medical personnel in The world. There are numerous well being facilities, properly unfold across the nation with ambulances standing by to rapidly evacuate emergencies to Royal Victoria Educating Hospital, RVTH, Banjul the place difficult instances are often taken.
Guests coming for the primary time, subsequently, are suggested to take the suitable vaccinations advisable. ECOWAS residents should take vaccinations in opposition to yellow fever, meningitis, Polio and so on and guarantee these are stamped on their Yellow Card, that is even taken extra critically, when touring by street by means of Benin, Togo, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal to The Gambia. Not having a legitimate Yellow Card may price you a fortune in fines you will be requested to Pay!
Medical companies is free to Gambians, besides the registration card which is D5 solely. ECOWAS residents are, nonetheless, required to pay for price of remedy and hospitalization, relying on the remedy. Vacationer visiting The Gambia are suggested to have a Journey Insurance coverage when visiting
Transportation throughout the nation is inexpensive. Shifting from one location to a different is sort of simple. There are three classes of business street transportation. One, is the industrial Bus, that solely enable most of three passengers on a row which is handy, not like 4 on a row in a number of different nations. One of these buses go across the main locations like Banjul to Serrekunda (D6), Banjul to Tabokoto (D10), Banjul to Brikama (D15), Serrekunda to Senegambia (D5) and so on.
The second class is the yellow and inexperienced painted taxis that take individuals for D5 a drop or chartered companies for many vacationers and locals, known as “Town Trip”. The final class, are the inexperienced painted and branded “Tourist Taxis” for vacationers from and to the airport, lodge areas, most seashores and historic websites for brand new guests. They’re dearer than the yellow painted ones.
Besides when it is extremely vital, first time guests are, nonetheless, inspired to keep away from going out across the rush hours, like 7-8am and 4-6pm, particularly when commuters are going to or getting back from work. From Tabokoto, Lamin, West subject, Serrekunda and Brikama within the morning to Banjul and returning again dwelling within the night is at all times very hectic and costly to take a taxi. The bus-stops are often congested and the visitors chaotic round these durations.
There are various properly organized tour operators with luxurious air conditioned buses to select from and to the airport all guests and vacationer that prepare their visits by means of them. Additionally they accomplice with most motels on excursions to historic websites and across the cities.
There space ferry companies accessible to move individuals throughout the River Gambia. From Barra to Banjul is D25 solely. Guests can are available in to the nation both by land by means of The Gambian border with Senegal at Hamdallah, or from Guinea and Cassamace, Senegal by means of Basse. By air is thru the one airport at Yundum. The Banjul Worldwide Airport, among the finest within the subregion with the longest run-way and fashionable radial amenities put in.
The airport will not be at all times busy and vacationers ought to at all times inform somebody to select them on the airport, particularly in the course of the weekends when industrial actions are low. Nonetheless, vacationer taxis can be found at any time for between D500-D800 relying on the space, often between 15-30km from the airport.
There’s a Bureau de Change on the airport to vary cash from different currencies like Euro, {dollars}, kilos and CFA to Dalaisi. For Visa Card carriers, there may be ECO Financial institution ATM on the airport. Financial institution PHB and Belief financial institution even have their ATMs on the airport.
On arrival within the nation, if you hear “Nagadef?”, that means how are you, simply reply “Jamarek”, that means i am high quality. After a hand shake, say “Jerejef”, that means thanks.
Jerejef, Jarama, Baraka (that means thanks in 3 completely different native languages).
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