The Gambia Investment Promotion and Free Zones Agency (GIPFZA), in collaboration with the Department of State for Trade, Industry and Employment, on Thursday, organised a day’s validation workshop at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.

The validation workshop brought together stakeholders from different government institutions, financial institutions, civil society organisations and other development partners.

Delivering his keynote address at the occasion, Abdou Kolley, secretary of state for Trade Industry and Employment, said in 2001, The Gambia government enacted the Investment Promotion and Free Zone Act to promote private investment in the economy and allow the private sector to play a lead role in the management of the economic resources.

Sos Kolley added that the gathering was meant to take stock of that decision to review and assess the two Acts and make them more responsive to the emerging challenges of poverty alleviation, technology development and to meet the millennium development goals. 

“Also, we need to reflect on the realities of the sub-regional integration process and the new economic partnership arrangement, which provide not only opportunities but also pose great challenges to our development,” he said.

According to him, the enactment of the two Acts and their subsequent review indicates the government’s strong conviction that promotion of private investment particularly Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is central to our development process, adding that the government is very much aware of the value of the FDI as it will help diversify our economy, encourage domestic investment, bring in skills, technology and market access and lead to economic growth and social development.

SoS Kolley finally said building national consensus requires national consultation and his Department of State in 2007 formed an inter-departmental taskforce comprising all the key stakeholders to guide the review process.

Professor Don Lecraw from the University of Western Onlario, Canada, was the consultant who gave the overview of the draft document at the occasion.

The National Planning Commission (NPC) in collaboration with stakeholders will today, Wednesday 27th August 2008, review and authenticate the draft of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) Annual Progress Report for 2007 at the Paradise Suite Hotel in Kololi.

The preparation of PRSP Annual Report forms part of the mandate of the National Planning Commission and as agreed with the country’s development partners, to regularly report on the status of implementation of PRSP II. Thus, it is mandatory on government to submit an Annual Progress Report (APR) highlighting the achievements, failures, constraints and lessons learnt during the implementation.

The PRSP II is a framework that defines principles for government planning and budget execution for achieving meaningful poverty reduction, and its implementation is being overseen by the National Planning Commission (NPC), established by an Act of parliament in 2006 and put in place in 2007.

This is the first progress report covering the period of PRSP II implementation, from January to December 2007.

The report provides information and analysis regarding the achievements and shortfalls experienced between January and December 2007 with respect to the poverty targets, priority public actions, and the monitoring and evaluation systems put in place for the PRSP II. It further highlights recommendations on important changes necessary in the strategy as appropriate in light of implementation experience to date, and data needs to enhance analysis and measurement of progress made in reducing poverty and its dimensions.

As the main government report on the status of implementation of the national development agenda, the progress report informed and involved domestic stakeholders and partners on all issues regarding implementation in order to build support for smooth implementation of PRSP II.

The information in this report will further contribute to focusing government’s budgetary allocation and pro-poor policies on key issues in fighting poverty and making PRSP II a reality.

It is likewise hoped that the report will help both government and partners to become responsive and focused on their promises and anticipation actions as evident in PRSP II priority areas as well as rally all development partners around PRSP II in the spirit of Paris Declaration principles.

The Security team were crowned champions of the first ever stakeholders tournament on Sunday after they beat the Fans Club by 2-0 in a final played at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.

The tournament, which was organised by the president and the first vice president of The Gambia Football Association Seedy MB Kinteh and Major General Lang Tombong Tamba, is to bring unity among the sports fraternity.

The Security team were awarded a bull while the runners up were awarded two rams.

The final of the Stakeholders Football Tournament, featuring people in the sporting arena, will played on Sunday and will feature the Football Fans and Security at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.

Both teams are formidable sides and will not only put up a good performance on Sunday but to battle for the first ever title.

The tournament, sponsored by the President of the Gambia football Association, Seedy MB Kinteh and Major General Lang Tombong Tamba showcased some high level of drama, interesting performances and above all, has facilitated in cementing a smooth relationship among participants.

In the semi-finals, played on Tuesday, Coaches crashed out of the tournament when they lost to the football Fans 3-0 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in normal playing time.

A team of security men surprised the football medics in a game that ended 1-0 the same day.

A trophy and a bull awaits the winner of the tournament, while runners up will walk away with two sheep.

The football teams featuring Coaches, Fans, Security and Medical are the four teams that booked their tickets to the semi-finals of the Stakeholders tournament currently underway.

 In the semi-finals, which will be played today Tuesday August 19th 2008, the Football Coaches will clash with Fans. Security and Medical will meet later in the second semi-final.

 The winner in both semi-finals will meet in the final scheduled for Sunday August 24th 2008.

The casualties are the Sports Journalist side who failed to collect a single point in the tournament and Administrators from group A.  In Group B, the football Referees and Veterans also failed to make it passed the group stages.