ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority Receives Delegation from Gambian Youth Chamber of Commerce

Published On - November 20, 2024

Ibrima Tambajang ERCA Blog

The ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) on Wednesday received a delegation from the Gambian Youth Chamber of Commerce (GYCC), led by its President, Mr. Momodou Lamin Gassama on Wednesday, 20th November 2024 in ERCA’s office in Banjul.

The Executive Director of ERCA warmly welcomed the delegation and initiated discussions by highlighting the Authority’s role in fostering fair competition across the ECOWAS region.

Mr. Gassama briefed the ERCA team on the purpose of the courtesy visit, highlighting the need to establish cooperation in the areas of advocacy and capacity of the members of the Youth Chamber of Commerce in respect to their understanding on the regional competition rules, and how the association can help in the work of ERCA.  In this line, he provided an insightful presentation on the Gambian Youth Chamber of Commerce, outlining its activities and contributions to youth entrepreneurship and economic empowerment over the years. The partnerships the association had forged with public, private and international institutions in strengthening and promoting domestic and cross border trade in various sectors. He also briefed on the structure of the Chamber and memberships.

In his address, the Executive Director of ERCA presented an overview of the Authority’s mandate and emphasized the need for collaboration between ERCA and the GYCC, underscoring the importance of raise awareness about ERCA’s work. He further stressed the need to ensure that market players understand competition rules, their rights, and how these rules support free and fair competition within the region.

Madam Fatima Muloshi, a member of the GYCC delegation, expressed gratitude to the Executive Director for hosting the team. In her remarks, she reiterated the need for strong collaboration between ERCA and GYCC to drive economic growth and youth empowerment in the region.

The meeting concluded with remarks from the Executive Director, who reaffirmed ERCA’s commitment to partnering with the Gambian Youth Chamber of Commerce. He expressed optimism for a more formalized cooperation in the near future, aimed at advancing mutual goals of economic development and fair competition.

Also present during the meeting were Mr. Yahaya Samateh, Principal Program Officer for Competition and Economic Analysis of ERCA, and Mr. Dakitse Benissan, Program Officer Research and Market.