‘Public Private Partnership should be strengthened if Gambia is to develop’

The Gambia private sector players have strongly observed that the only way to maintain and further strengthen the economic development of the country is to make stronger the partnership between the public and the private sectors.

This statement was made at a day-long forum on the ‘Prospects and Opportunities of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in The Gambia’ organised by the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) held at the Coco Ocean Resort and Spa Hotel in Bijilo.

The forum attracted stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to discuss ways and means to strengthen the partnership between the two sectors.

Almami Taal, CEO of Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Speaking on the occasion, Almami Fanding Taal, chief executive officer of GCCI, noted that PPP has the advantage for government in the areas of resource mobilisation, access to expert skills, increased efficiency, and would also ease the burden on public budgets, and improve delivery of services.

When strengthened, PPP can increase access to markets and job creation.

He stressed that a well-planned PPP can sustain the economic growth of the country which will also benefits all sectors of the economy.

However, he said there is a need to have a framework that will serve as a guide or a reference document for the PPP.

“Of course having the framework in place would start the process where serious business leaders will consider services that are well suited for the public,” Mr Taal said.

Mod K. Ceesay, deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, said the government cannot do it alone and so, such partnership with the private sector like the PPP can help in the attainment of the Programme for Accelerate Growth and Employment (PAGE), Gambia government’s development blueprint.

Speaking earlier, Muhammad M. Jagana, president of GCCI, it is very important that the partnership between the public and the private sectors should be strengthened.