SUMMARY
I get pleasure from touring round West Africa, particularly round culturally wealthy areas mixing nature with trendy 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 range in languages, faith, tradition, meals, structure, local weather, financial life, natural world.
The information acquired, can’t be quantified in financial phrases, and i’ll suggest this academic excursions to our youths to allow them admire and tolerate different cultures, thus lowering 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.
At present, the success story of Ghana is clear 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 stunning nation to expertise what I am speaking about? I really like this peaceable nation blessed with hospitable folks. Gambians welcome you with pure inspiring smiles. The Gambia is bounded spherical by an historic river, wealthy in pure sources of sea meals, animals and therapeutic powers. Welcome to The Gambia, the smiling coast of West Africa.
From the pure fantastic 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 wish to depart. Little marvel, 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 secure financial system with a single digit inflation charge and forex change of US$1.0= GMD26 (As at ninth April, 2010). The Gambia is a multicultural nation with quite a lot of 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 any discrimination based mostly on faith, creed, coloration, race, gender, social standing, incapacity and with zero tolerance to corruption. Learn on! Alsamadeh!
MARKET
The main markets are in Banjul, Serrekunda and Brikama. Right here, you possibly can store for staple meals like fish, meat, greens, clothings, jeweleries and vogue equipment. The locals welcome folks with pure smiles after exchanging the spiritual greetings: “Asalamalekun”, that means, peace be unto you. Historically, Gambian girls go to market each day to purchase what to cook dinner.They are often seen with the plastic baskets with holders thronging to the busy markets to buy recent 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, nevertheless, favor 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 all around the Larger Banjul space competing with the standard markets. There are additionally the neighborhood retailers, referred to as “Fulah Outlets”, owned largely by Mauritanian residents and in some instances by Guineans. That is the place to get the domestically made bread referred to as, “Tapalapa”. That is normally a protracted banana formed clay oven baked bread that’s normally transported on bicycles by the suppliers early within the morning, mid-day and sundown time. I favor shopping for this, when recent, it is delicate 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 normally offered with a pleasant unfold of butter, mayonnaises, egg, potato and spiced with jumbo or Maggi sauce relying on the customer’s preferences.
There’s additionally “Senfu”, which has a crumb nature and less expensive, being offered for D3 for a full roll. Nonetheless, i seen the “Senfu” just isn’t as filling because the “Tapalapa” that may maintain 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 constituted of “Saddam Rice”, as it’s referred to as domestically, by milling it into powder and cooked right into a stable paste in a pot. The preferred lunch meal, amongst Gambians, is the jollof rice, domestically known as ” Benechin”. Several types of stew are ready to eat the rice meal like”Plasas”, “Tremendous ganja”, “Damoda”,and so on. I benefit from the Gambia breakfast meal of “Thura Girthe”, which may be very wealthy in protein. This can be a combination of properly pounded rice cooked with milled groundnut and eaten with a diffusion of yogurt “Bitter Milk”.
Gambians eat collectively. Small teams of between 5-8 individuals are normally 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. Should you suppose there isn’t any free meal anyplace, you are improper; come to The Gambia! This clarify the rationale for very low or non-existent crime charge. No less than, a lunch meal is assured for anybody dwelling in The Gambia. Meals is shared, nobody goes dwelling hungry. The ladies additionally waste quite a lot of meals by at all times making ready lots anticipating guests to hitch them when serving their meals. They bundle the rice meals in massive broad bowls with a canopy and wrap it in a standard method with material, that may 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, they usually go for the Friday Particular prayers within the afternoon. Though, the “African time” idea remains to be prevalent among the many folks, that is frequent with the federal government staff, the personal sector is healthier. Most severe enterprise appointments begin from 9am, though, they’re scheduled for 8am.
The main cause generally for arriving at work late, may be because of unavailability of economic automobiles 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 referred to as ” Atire”.
GAME OF FOOTBALL
A primary time customer, to The Gambia will suppose the sport of soccer has it is origin from right here, due to the love and keenness connected to this recreation. There are fairly plenty of playgrounds which might be by no means saved idle due to the teeming youths that religiously prepare and play each day matches, particularly within the evenings after work or college. 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 numerous Soccer Viewing facilities which might 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 crew, referred to as the “Scorpion” is adored and also you dare not say something dangerous towards this crew 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 interval”. 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 mates with Gambians is very easy, simply decide up a soccer matter!
BEACHES
The weather conditions of The Gambia is barely totally different from different ECOWAS nations. There is just one cycle of rainfall which begins round June and ends round October. It’s normally scorching through the raining intervals, not like different nations that have chilly intervals.
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 wish 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 referred to as “Toubabs” are normally welcome at these seashores which have enticing 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 mates”. The seashores are besieged by nearly all Gambians throughout festive intervals or throughout main musical concert events or exhibits.
FESTIVE PERIODS
A customer arriving The Gambia round Easter or Christmas will suppose 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 any single Christian on the town.
That is the sweetness and variety of the Gambian hospitality and tolerance of different religions in The Gambia. The folks 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 frequent and that i usually marvel the place the ladies get the additional vitality 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 wish to be hospitalized.
The leisure business is due to this fact very vibrant. Most individuals chill out by watching Nigerian, Senegalese and Ghanaian dwelling movies. There are a number of video rental retailers to select the newest Nigerian movies from. Many of the banks and lodges present international channels like DSTV, CNN, AlJAZEERA, EUROSPORT and so on.
PAID WORK IN THE GAMBIA
Apart from ECOWAS nationals, which might be allowed to work freely in some key authorities sectors like Schooling and Judiciary, different nationals are solely allowed to work as expatriate and need to 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 herald their work pressure, supplied they abide by the immigration legal guidelines of acquiring a piece/residential allow. Openings exist all 12 months spherical for certified lecturers in Senior secondary colleges all around the nation.
Many of the vacancies are normally 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 Growth Institute (MDI), Gambia School and Gambia Technical Coaching Institute (G.T.T.I).
Though, the personal institutes remuneration is increased than the federal government pay scale. Many of the secondary colleges within the provinces are in want of lecturers, most lecturers reasonably favor to switch to the city cities leaving the agricultural villages with out certified instructing pressure.
Authorities sponsored colleges remuneration bundle for non-Gambian lecturers 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 college and expertise of the trainer.
Most faculties favor lecturers which have gathered “Gambian expertise”, that means, they will need to have taught in The Gambia for some years to know the system. Combining each shifts means extra earnings. Most authorities colleges favor 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 research lessons for the scholars after shut of college by some lecturers. Most lecturers usually change college to these paying extra, and each time period witnesses a mass drift of lecturers 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 “scorching cake” topics for most colleges.
ECOWAS certified lecturers (M.Sc, B.Sc & HND holders within the topics listed above) are normally being employed in secondary colleges in The Gambia.
Different professionals wanted to work within the personal sectors are:
1. Legal professionals with LL.b diploma which have efficiently accomplished Legislation college and referred to 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. Car 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 Growth Trainers.
13. Trainers in distinctive abilities & vocations.
14. Cottage Business set-up trainers ( Physique lotions, soaps, cartons, shoe polish and so on.)
The monetary business 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 employees.
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 Resort and Tourism business. The Non Governmental Organizations, NGOs are allowed to herald their personnel.
Volunteers are additionally welcome in The Gambia. Volunteers can have a cultural immersion and achieve worldwide expertise on this peaceable nation. For vacation makers, i’ll suggest visiting this small however distinctive nation for these in quest of a Peaceable, Reasonably priced and Memorable African Retreat (PAMAR!)
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
1. ECOWAS CITIZENS
The federal government welcome funding in all sectors, particular consideration is, nevertheless, given to Agriculture due to the significance of meals safety to any nation. Different sectors like Actual Property & Properties, Mining Business, Resort & Tourism, Well being, Schooling, 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 inside the 16 nations block, the required capital wanted to re-locate to the Gambia to work, dwell, make investments or vacation is much lower than what’s required to cool 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 secure provide of electrical energy and plenty of companies solely depend on this secure 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 occasions, about such assaults within the provinces some few years in the past. Individuals transfer about with out worry of molestation or assault. Petty cell phone theft are normally frequent.
The residential homes are reasonably priced, 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 begin small companies.
For these clever 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 initially plan and put together, understanding 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 particular areas, clever traders, can rush into to take a position presently, from our detailed analysis findings are:
A) Organising 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 Houses to be offered or rented out to folks.
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) Recent Flower manufacturing and export.
J) Fish Canning/ Meals packaging for export.
There are different 90 companies we’ve surveyed to be potential immediate cash earners for clever traders to tackle. Kindly request for an in depth challenge profile on this. The Gambia Funding Promotion and Free Zones Company, (GIPFZA) welcome traders with distinctive provides of tax aid, authorities help and non-bureaucratic processing of needed paperwork to permit for fast set-up and funding in The Gambia.
To have a good concept of the enterprise local weather, i like to recommend that each one potential traders learn the newest enterprise listing (The Gambia Enterprise Listing).
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT & BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
The Gambia, although small, however has a sturdy financial system with fourteen industrial banks, 4 GSM firms, a superb variety of airways plying the subregion and the surface world. There are greater than 5 each day newspapers, round eight radio stations and plenty of lodges of worldwide requirements together with the 5-star Sheraton Resort.
The main roads from the airport to most busy industrial facilities like Kairaba, Brufut, West Discipline, Senegambia, Brikama, Latrikunda and Banjul are all tarred with properly lighted avenue lights. Clear, recent and handled pipe borne water is obtainable 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 much cheaper each within the brief time period and long run. The true property enterprise is having fun with an ideal increase with 30% return yearly on investments, and the Meltdown phenomenon just isn’t simply noticeable in The Gambia.
The Gambia is a vacationer vacation spot and repeated guests are frequent 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 stable 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 each day and it’s common sight,to see many of the property homeowners promoting their telephone contacts for these concerned about renting or leasing these properties from excessive rise buildings in Senegambia axis, Kairaba, Fajara, West Discipline, Tallinding, Tabokoto, Abuko, Lamin, Yundum and so on.
Gambians in diaspora are dashing dwelling to take a position on this excessive yielding property sector. A customer that final visited the nation a 12 months in the past, will discover a outstanding distinction on this infrastructural developments. The Gambia is a clear nation, particularly with the introduction of the month-to-month cleansing workouts, referred to 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’s free motion.
Municipal officers go round to make sure the wastes are correctly disposed and guarantee compliance to the legislation, that each one retailers and companies most be closed and no motion of economic automobiles, till the tip of the cleansing train.
Well being clever, it’s secure to dwell in The Gambia, as a result of the well being supply system may be very environment friendly and properly geared up with the perfect 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 normally taken.
Guests coming for the primary time, due to this fact, are suggested to take the suitable vaccinations really useful. ECOWAS residents should take vaccinations towards 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 via Benin, Togo, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal to The Gambia. Not having a sound 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, nevertheless, 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 inside the nation is reasonably priced. Shifting from one location to a different is sort of straightforward. There are three classes of economic 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 folks for D5 a drop or chartered companies for many vacationers and locals, referred to as “City Journey”. The final class, are the inexperienced painted and branded “Vacationer 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, nevertheless, 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 discipline, 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 normally congested and the visitors chaotic round these intervals.
There are numerous properly organized tour operators with luxurious air conditioned buses to select from and to the airport all guests and vacationer that prepare their visits via them. In addition they companion with most lodges on excursions to historic websites and across the cities.
There space ferry companies accessible to move folks throughout the River Gambia. From Barra to Banjul is D25 solely. Guests can are available to the nation both by land via The Gambian border with Senegal at Hamdallah, or from Guinea and Cassamace, Senegal via 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 trendy radial services put in.
The airport just isn’t at all times busy and vacationers ought to at all times inform somebody to select them on the airport, particularly through the weekends when industrial actions are low. Nonetheless, vacationer taxis can be found at any time for between D500-D800 relying on the gap, normally between 15-30km from the airport.
There’s a Bureau de Change on the airport to alter cash from different currencies like Euro, {dollars}, kilos and CFA to Dalaisi. For Visa Card carriers, there’s 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, while 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 totally different native languages).