SUMMARY
I take pleasure in moving round West Africa, particularly round culturally loaded areas admixture nature with fashionable infrastructural developments. Both my air and street travels round this ECOWAS subregion inside the final 15 years has been each informatory and enriching for me. I've been culturally immersed with variety in languages, faith, custom, meals, structure, local weather, business life, wildlife.
The information acquired, can't be quantified in business phrases, and i'll suggest this academic excursions to our youths to allow them refer to and tolerate different cultures, thus lowering conflicts and disputes amongst neighboring international locations. Somewhere else, i've written and held a number of seminars on working and residing in Ghana about 11 years in the past.
Today, the succeeder story of Ghana is self-explanatory to all and this nation Ghana, has emerged as among the finest economies inside the subregion. Again, i'm introducing one other rising nice economy to you, The Gambia.
Before the entire world flood right here, and you will be overlooked, why not take my advise critically and make investments, work, reside or vacation on this lovely nation to expertise what I'm speaking about? I really like this peaceable nation blessed with hospitable individuals. Gambians welcome you with pure exalting smiles. The Gambia is finite spherical by an historic river, loaded in pure sources of sea meals, animals and therapeutic powers. Welcome to The Gambia, the smiling coast of West Africa.
From the pure great affair about Makasutu Village, historic websites of Kunta Kinteh village, James Island, Kachikally Crocodile pool, Kanilai Farm, and so many different websites to the coasts and folks, you'll hardly need 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 come from throughout Europe, Americas, Asia and Africa. At the coast, the great affair about the Sea, the sand and star will cue you of Mother Africa.
How in regards to the funding local weather, very favorable and investor pleasant.With a steady economy with a single digit inflation fee and foreign money change of US$1.0= GMD26 (As at ninth April, 2010). The Gambia is a philosophy nation with many immigrants from West Africa, Europe, America, Middle East and Asia whole residing as traders, working with a number of NGOs, some retired traders whereas many others are engaged in importation companies and closely-held a number of buying malls.The Gambia is house to traders, volunteers, professionals following their profession, and vacation makers who has made this peaceable nation their resort area. Welcome to The Gambia, the place there isn't any discrimination primarily supported faith, creed, coloration, race, gender, social standing, incapacity and with zero tolerance to corruption. Read on! Alsamadeh!
MARKET
The main markets are in Banjul, Serrekunda and Brikama. Here, you may store for staple meals like fish, meat, two-leaved vegetable, cloaffairs, jeweleries and style equipment. The locals welcome individuals with pure smiles after exchanging the non secular recogniseings: "Asalamalekun", which means, peace be unto you. Traditionally, Gambian ladies attend market daily to purchase what to prepare dinner.They will be seen with the plastic baskets with holders thronging to the busy markets to buy recent fish, meat, two-leaved vegetable and take time to recognise one other asking after every others' homes, dealings and get up up to now about present social occasions and different ladies gossips. Some of the elites, nevertheless, desire to stock buying malls round Kairaba Avenue, and purchase meals in giant portions to retail merchant at house.
Mini-markets, or what some name supermarkets are all over in the Greater Banjul space competitive with the normal markets. There are additively the neighborhood retail merchants, famed as "Fulah Shops", closely-held chiefly by Mauritanian residents and in some circumstances by Guineans. This is the place to get the regionally made bread famed as, "Tapalapa". This is often a long banana formed clay oven baked bread that's often transported on bicycles by the suppliers early inside the morning, mid-day and sunset time. I desire shopping for this, when recent, it is tender and extra gripping than the stale hardened and uninviting ones. A full one goes for D5 and the half is D2.50. The bread is often bought with a pleasant unfold of butter, mayonnaises, egg, potato and spiced with elephantine or Maggi sauce relying on the client's preferences.
There can also be "Senfu", which has a crumb nature and less expensive, being bought for D3 for a full roll. However, i seen the "Senfu" isn't as filling because the "Tapalapa" that may hold 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" in contrast to those present in Ghana and Nigeria are constructed from "Saddam Rice", as it's famed as regionally, by milling it into powder and hard-baked right into a stable paste in a pot. The hottest dejeuner meal, amongst Gambians, is the jollof rice, regionally famed as " Benechin". Different sorts 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 could be very loaded in protein. This is a mix of nicely pounded rice hard-baked with processed groundnut and eaten with a ramification of yoghourt "Sour Milk".
Gambians eat collectively. Small teams of between 5-Eight individuals are often seen intense from the identical bowl, and but, when a client seems, she or he is beakoned to however be a part of them and share out of it. This is the real love, i am but to see wherever. If you suppose there isn't any free meal wherever, you are mistaken; come to The Gambia! This clarify the explanation for very low or non-existent crime fee. At least, a dejeuner meal is assured for anybody residing in The Gambia. Food is shared, nonentity goes house hungry. The ladies additively waste many meals by all the time acquiring ready lots anticipating guests to affix them when serving their meals. They bundle the rice meals in giant broad bowls with a canopy and wrap it in a standard method with fabric, that may safe the meals from spilling and carry to their husbands at their several working locations for them to eat with colconferences. Sometimes, they go journey prolonged distances, to ship the meals, like a home residing 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 normally go for the Friday Special prayers inside the afternoon. Although, the "African time" idea clay to be current among the many individuals, that is widespread with the federal government staff, the personal sphere is best. Most severe enterprise appointments begin from 9am, although, they're regular for 8am.
The main purpose typically for arriving busy late, will get on account of inaccessibility of business automobiles to move staff to their several locations of labor. Even, at locations of labor, Gambians don't forget to take their Chinese natural tea famed as " Atire".
GAME OF FOOTBALL
A primary time client, to The Gambia will suppose the sport of association football has it is origin from right here, attributable the love and fervour hooked up to this sport. There are fairly many playgrounds which are not by a blame sigh saved idle attributable the abundant youths that religiously practice and play daily matches, particularly inside the evenings after work or college. Similarly, on weekends, very first affair inside the morning, you'll discover everybody physical exercise or enjoying the sport they love most; association football.
The discussions of most of those youths that represent half of the nation's inhabitants is centered on the European matches. Teams like Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan and different huge groups have fanatical following in The Gambia.
There are many Football Viewing facilities which are making a fortune exhibiting the reside matches to most Gambian. Although, few of these youths may not know the capital of Nigeria, they normally inform me it is Lagos, even so they actually know all of the European Club Managers, first line ups and transfers of those key gamers, to not speak in regards to the newest dozens inside the premiership or championship.
The Gambia's nationwide me, famed as the "Scorpion" is preferred and also you dare not say someaffair dangerous con to this me so as to not obtain the anger of my association football lovers. A loss in sport when "Scorpions" play, will flip the whole nation right into a grave yard, "a mourning period". But with a win; the Brazilian obeche dancers will envy the dance stairs of each the junior girls and boys singing: "ho, ho ho ho, ha,ha,ha,ha..haleyomii". Therefore, to make couple with Gambians is really easy, simply decide up a association football matter!
BEACHES
The weather conditions of The Gambia is barely whole different from different ECOWAS international locations. There is just one cycle of rain which begins round June and ends round October. It is often hot through the descending durations, in contrast to different international locations that have chilly durations.
The Hamattan interval begins from November to February. However, the climate experiences erratic adjustments typically. The coasts are clear and supply succor to visiting vacationers that need to expertise the great affair about the star, the sea and the sand of The Gambia.
There are a number of coasts to attend. From Banjul coast to Palma Rima, Senegambia and as a great deal like Sanyang. There are so many personal coasts aboard this line. Most white vacationers famed as "Toubabs" are often welcome at these coasts which have attractive 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 coasts to discourage the "unsolicited friends". The coasts are enclosed by most all Gambians throughout festal durations or throughout main musical concert events or reveals.
FESTIVE PERIODS
A client arriving The Gambia round Easter or Christmas will suppose all Gambians are Christians, with the celebration and partying. Similarly, crosswise the Muslim festivals of "Koriteh or Tobaski" will give one the impression that there isn't any single Christian on the town.
This is the sweetness and variety of the Gambian cordial reception and tolerance of different religions in The Gambia. The individuals take pleasure in good music. The native artists are preferred, few of whom are Jalibah Kuyateh, Titi Kololi, Freakie Joe, Asan Njie, Olugander and Sambou to say just few.
The ladies, each junior and previous, take pleasure in saltation. The very bodily dances of bound and kicking the air is widespread and that i normally marvel the place the ladies get the additive power and energy from. Some junior males that aren't used to those dances, dare not problem these ladies in a saltation competitors, if they don't need to be hospitalized.
The leisure trade is afterward very vibrant. Most individuals calm by observance Nigerian, Senegalese and Ghanaian house movies. There are a number of video rental retail merchants to choose the most recent Nigerian movies from. Most of the Banks and motels present international channels like DSTV, CNN, AlJAZEERA, EUROSPORT and so on.
PAID WORK IN THE GAMBIA
Except for ECOWAS nationals, which are allowed to work freely in some key regime spheres like Education and Judiciary, different nationals are entirely allowed to work as expatriate and need to undergo a examination and get approval from the in-migration division, earlier than they are often permitted to work with the federal government.
However, traders are allowed to herald their work drive, supplied they abide by the in-migration legal guidelines of acquiring a piece/human action allow. Openings exist all yr spherical for certified lecturers in Senior secondary colleges all over in the nation.
Most of the vacancies are often stuffed by Nigerians, Ghanaians, Senegalese, Sierra-Leoneans, Liberians and a handful of different ECOWAS nationals. Openings additively exist for lecturers in University of The Gambia, a number of proficient coaching institutes and different tertiary institutes like Management Development Institute (MDI), Gambia College and Gambia Technical Tdescending Institute (G.T.T.I).
Although, the personal institutes earnings is greater than the federal government pay scale. Most of the secondary colleges inside the provinces are in want of lecturers, most lecturers moderately desire to switch to the city cities departure the agricultural villages with out certified educating drive.
Government backed colleges earnings bundle for non-Gambian lecturers are between D3,500-D4,000 per shift (Morning or afternoon) relying on the entry stage expertise and qualification. The personal colleges pay between D4,500-D10,000, relying on the college and expertise of the trainer.
Most colleges desire lecturers which have gathered "Gambian experience", which means, they should have taught in The Gambia for some years to know the system. Combining each shifts means extra revenue. Most regime colleges desire to pay full wage for the morning shift and half wage for the afternoon shift. There are different a number of alternatives of revenue incomes, by organizing research lessons for the scholars after shut of college by some lecturers. Most lecturers normally change college to these paying extra, and each period witnesses a mass drift of lecturers round.
The sought-after after colleges are: Marina International, SBEC, Zenith, SOS, Scanaid and West African International. Linguistics and sciences are the popular topics normally in excessive demand. English language, English Literature, Mathematics, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Agric Science, Applied Electricity and so on, are "hot cake" topics for most colleges.
ECOWAS certified lecturers (M.Sc, B.Sc & HND holders inside the topics listed above) are often being employed in secondary colleges in The Gambia.
Other professionals wanted to work inside the personal spheres are:
1. Lawyers with LL.b sheepskin which have efficiently accomplished Law college and famed as to Bar to work as
Magistrates/Judges with the Ministry of Justice.
2. Professional Graphic & Website Designers.
3. Professional Advertisers.
4. Desktop & Laptop Repair Technicians.
5. Automobile Technicians.
6. Theater Arts & Dramatic artists.
7. Film Directors & Producers.
8. Professional Actors & Actresses.
9. Radio & T.V Programme Presenters.
10. Fish Breeding & Farming
11. Aquarium Making & Gold Fish Rearing.
12. Leadership Development Trainers.
13. Trainers in distinctive expertise & vocations.
14. Cottage Industry set-up trainers ( Body lotions, soaps, cartons, blacking and so on.)
The medium of exchange trade has witnessed an exceptional development with addition of extra Banks becoming a member of the conference not too long ago, delivery the overall variety of Banks to 14 in The Gambia. Most of those Nigerian Banks are opening up branches and can want extra workers.
Although, it's far cheaper to rent the locals than expatriate by the Banks, attributable the particular tax paid for not hiring Gambians. The similar rule applies to the Hotel and Tourism trade. The Non Governmental Organizations, NGOs are allowed to herald their personnel.
Volunteers are additively welcome in The Gambia. Volunteers can have a cultural immersion and acquire worldwide expertise on this peaceable nation. For vacation makers, i'll suggest visiting this small even so distinctive nation for these looking a Peaceful, Affordable and Memorable African Retreat (PAMAR!)
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
1. ECOWAS CITIZENS
The regime welcome funding all told spheres, particular consideration is, nevertheless, given to Agriculture attributable the significance of meals safety to any nation. Other spheres like Real Estate & Properties, Mining Industry, Hotel & Tourism, Health, Education, Manufacturing and Agro- allied Sectors are key areas to enter and get regime incentive, in tax aid and complete assist.
ECOWAS residents take pleasure in free motion of individuals and items inside the 16 international locations block, the required capital wanted to re-locate to the Gambia to work, reside, make investments or vacation is way lower than what's required to calm down in different ECOWAS international locations. With the electricity tariffs coming down (because of the federal government initiative), NAWEC, the electricity firm is doing her finest to ensure steady provide of electricity and plenty of companies entirely depend on this steady electricity provide.
Incidences of armed stealing assault are very uncommon. I've not seen or witness or hear about armed stealing assaults inside the final six years. I entirely learn in one of many newspapers, one or two instances, about such assaults inside the provinces some few years in the past. People transfer about with out worry of harassment or assault. Petty cell phone stealing are often widespread.
The human action homes are inexpensive, and rents of 1 to 3 calendar months advance funds, are demanded. The individuals are heat and hospitable. For as little as D500 per thirty days, a room will be rented crosswise the busy areas like Brikama, Latrikunda, Lamin,Tabokoto, Wellingara and Coastal street areas.
The 2-bed room residences with all of the amenities 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 inside the nation with alternatives to begin small companies.
For these smart residents inside the nation, there are a number of companies to select from and do effortlessly on this funding pleasant nation. Anyone coming to The Gambia for the primary time, should earlier plan and put together, realizing what to do and the place to remain and having decent details about the custom and enterprise local weather.
2. WORLDWIDE INVESTORS ( MEDIUM/ LARGE SCALE BUSINESSES)
The particular areas, smart traders, can rush into to speculate presently, from our careful analysis findings are:
A) Setting up a non-public University with human action campus to draw all ECOWAS residents.
B) Eateries like MacDonald's, Chicken George, Mr. Briggs, Sweet Sensation, Tantalizers, TFC, and so on
C) Botanical Garden/ Love Garden crosswise the Tourist areas.
D) Building low Cost Homes to be bought or rented intent on individuals.
E) Ground nut processing manufacturing facility.
F) Feed Mill for Poultry, Rabbitry and Turkey Production.
G) Cashew Processing Factory (CNS Oil, brake oil, glue, rubber,electrical wires and so on).
H) Natural Juice canning manufacturing facility ( Fruits like mangoes, orange, lime and so on abound).
I) Fresh Flower manufacturing and export.
J) Fish Canning/ Food promotion for export.
There are different 90 companies we now have surveyed to be potential on the spot cash earners for smart traders to tackle. Kindly request for an deep mission visibility on this. The Gambia Investment Promotion and Free Zones Agency, (GIPFZA) welcome traders with distinctive presents of tax aid, regime assist and non-bureaucratic processing of required paperwork to permit for fast set-up and funding in The Gambia.
To have a good construct of the enterprise local weather, i like to recommend that each one potential traders learn the most recent enterprise listing (The Gambia Business Directory).
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT & BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
The Gambia, although small, even so has a sturdy economy with fourteen business Banks, 4 GSM firms, a very good variety of airways plying the subregion and the skin world. There are greater than 5 daily newspapers, round eight radio Stations of the Cross and plenty of motels of worldwide requirements together with the 5-star Sheraton Hotel.
The main roads from the airdrome to most busy business facilities like Kairaba, Brufut, West Field, Senegambia, Brikama, Latrikunda and Banjul are all tarred with nicely lighted road lights. Clean, recent and handled pipe borne water is available to most houses 24hrs uninterrupted.
Communication and web providers are fairly cheaper than most different international locations. The price of beginning a enterprise in The Gambia is way cheaper each inside the brief period and long run. The actual property enterprise is having fun with an important growth with 30% return yearly on investments, and the Meltdown phenomenon isn't simply noticeable in The Gambia.
The Gambia is a vacationer resort area and continual guests are widespread on this fantastic and peace enamored smiling coast of The Gambia. Although, The Gambia is a tax primarily based economy, the federal government makes substantial earnings from Tourism and exportation of agricultural commodities like Groundnut, Fishes, Cotton and stable minerals.
It is obligatory for each resident to have a TIN quantity(Tax Identification Number) earlier than a checking account will be opened. New buildings are developing daily and it's common sight,to see many of the property house owners promoting their cellphone contacts for these inquisitive about rental or leasing these properties from excessive rise buildings in Senegambia axis, Kairaba, Fajara, West Field, Tallinding, Tabokoto, Abuko, Lamin, Yundum and so on.
Gambians in diaspora are speeding house to speculate on this excessive yielding property sphere. A client 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 calendar month-to-calendar month cleansing physical exercise routines, famed as "SETSETAL", which is a particular cleansing day for everyone on the final Saturday of the calendar month between the hours of 8-1pm and thenceforth there's free motion.
Municipal officers go round to make a point the wastes are aright disposed and guarantee compliance to the regulation, that each one retail merchants and companies most be closed and no motion of business automobiles, till the top of the cleansing train.
Health smart, it's protected to reside in The Gambia, as a result of the well being supply system could be very environment friendly and nicely intermeshed up with the very best medical personnel in The world. There are many well being facilities, nicely unfold crosswise the nation with ambulances standing by to shortly evacuate emergencies to Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital, RVTH, Banjul the place sophisticated circumstances are often taken.
Visitors coming for the primary time, afterward, are recommended to take the suitable vaccinations beneficial. ECOWAS residents should take vaccinations con to yellow fever, meningitis, Polio and so on and guarantee these are sealed on their Yellow Card, that is even taken extra critically, when moving by street by way of 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 providers is free to Gambians, besides the registration card which is D5 entirely. ECOWAS residents are, nevertheless, required to invite out price of therapy and hospitalization, relying on the therapy. Tourist visiting The Gambia are recommended to have a Travel Insurance when visiting
Transportation inside the nation is inexpensive. Moving from one location to a different is rather simple. There are three classes of business street transportation. One, is the business Bus, that entirely enable most of three passengers on a row which is handy, in contrast to 4 on a row in a number of different international locations. This rather buses go crosswise the main locations like Banjul to Serrekunda (D6), Banjul to Tabokoto (D10), Banjul to Brikama (D15), Serrekunda to Senegambia (D5) and so on.
The Cabin class is the yellow and unpractised painted taxis that take individuals for D5 a drop or hired providers for many vacationers and locals, famed as "Town Trip". The final class, are the unpractised painted and proprietary "Tourist Taxis" for vacationers from and to the airdrome, lodge areas, most coasts and historic websites for brand brisk new guests. They are costlier than the yellow painted ones.
Except when it is vitally essential, first time guests are, nevertheless, elysian to keep away from going out crosswise the rush hours, like 7-8am and 4-6pm, particularly when commuters are going to or return from work. From Tabokoto, Lamin, West discipline, Serrekunda and Brikama inside the morning to Banjul and returning once more house inside the night is all the time very agitated and costly to take a taxi. The bus-stops are often full and the visitors chaotic round these durations.
There are many nicely organized tour operators with luxurious air conditioned buses to choose from and to the airdrome all guests and vacationer that prepare their visits by way of them. They additively confederate with most motels on excursions to historic websites and crosswise the cities.
There space ferry providers accessible to move individuals throughout the River Gambia. From Barra to Banjul is D25 entirely. Visitors can are available in to the nation both by land by way of The Gambian border with Senegal at Hamdallah, or from Guinea and Cassamace, Senegal by way of Basse. By air is thru the one airdrome at Yundum. The Banjul International Airport, among the finest inside the subregion with the longest run-way and fashionable radial services put in.
The airdrome isn't all the time busy and vacationers ought to all the time inform individual to choose them on the airdrome, particularly through the weekends when business actions are low. However, vacationer taxis can be found at any time for between D500-D800 relying on the gap, often between 15-30km from the airdrome.
There is a Bureau de Change on the airdrome to vary cash from different currencies like Euro, {dollars}, kilos and CFA to Dalaisi. For Visa Card carriers, there's ECO Bank ATM on the airdrome. Bank PHB and Trust business institution even have their ATMs on the airdrome.
On arrival inside the nation, whenever you hear "Nagadef?", which means how are you, simply reply "Jamarek", which means i am advantageous. After a hand shake, say "Jerejef", which means thanks.
Jerejef, Jarama, Baraka (which means thanks in Three whole different native languages).
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