GCCI schedules date for Annual Business Awards, increases number of prizes

The prestigious annual business award of the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), in which businesses and individuals in the private sector are recognise and celebrated for their outstanding performance, is scheduled to take place on 1^st June and four new categories of award are add to the ten categories awarded last year.

During the awards a new breed of economic operators would be awarded for excellence in doing performance.  The aim of the event is to promote and nurture business excellence, and motivate business entities to do more for the economic growth and social development.

This year’s award night will witness the award of hotel, restaurant, tourism, and insurance ‘Company of the Year’ in addition to the ten awarded categories given last year.

Alammy Taal GCCI CEO

According to the Chief Executive Officer of the GCCI, Almamy Taal, the annual awards also seeks to draw public attention to  the role of the private sector and realize the innovativeness of entrepreneurship in the sector. 

Mr Taal, who was speaking to journalists on Tuesday at a press conference held at Kerr Jula, the GCCI head office located in Bijilo along Bertil Harding Highway, said the dinner is meant to recognise the efforts and gains made by the business community in the country in contributing towards the socio-economic development of the nation.

He explained that the proceeds from this year’s awards night will be used to help the farmers.

To attend Annual Business Awards Night Dinner, individuals and institutions pay money in form of buying tables of different categories – gold, silver, platinum – the proceeds of which the GCCI used to fund some of its activities, but the CEO of the Chamber emphasized that “greater part of this year’s annual dinner award proceeds will be given to Gambian farmers in support of this year’s crop failure”.

Taal stressed that farmers are the pillars of any country because they contribute to the economy. 

Sarata Conateh, the business development manager of GCCI, said farmers are part of the private sector, and need all the necessary support from all and sundry in which the Chamber is not an exception. 

Last year Awardees

Last year awards night witnessed the presentation of awards to outstanding businesses and individuals for their achievements in the year 2010.  The economic operators won various categories were: Hamidou Jah of Jah Oil Company won the Businessman of the Year Award; while Isha Njie of SBEC International School grabbed the Businesswoman of the Year. GHE won the S.M.E Award, while Partners to the Private Sector Award went to ‘Gambia is Good’. ATC Construction Company won the Construction Company of the year; while Salam Company won the Manufacturing Company of the Year Award. The GCCI 2010 Agriculture and Natural Resources Business Organisation Award went to Banjulinding Women’s Garden; Bank of the Year Award went to the Trust Bank for the fifth time in a row. Africell won the Telecommunications Company of the Year Award, and the GCCI President’s Award went to Gam-petroleum.