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By: Sarjo Camara-Singateh
The Gambia Women Chamber of Commerce (GWCC) in collaboration with She Trades- Gambia, recently held a week long capacity building training for its members on developing business documents.The training was held at the Gamtel Technical, Training and Multimedia Institute (GTMI) at Kanifing.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Beatrice Mboge, Chief Executive Officer of GWCC, said the objectives of the training was to equip participants with the understanding of filling out both paper and online application forms, with knowledge and skills of writing quality cover letters, writing of business bio, personal profiles, creating and developing a business plan.
Ms. Maimuna Sanyang, a business developer, also pointed out the need for participants to have such relevant knowledge as the ability to recognise the similarities and differences between online and paper application forms and all that goes into writing a business plan.
“Participants have expressed the need for more of such trainings especially in marketing and record keeping,” she asserted.
At the end of the training participants have proposed future trainings to include: branding, differentiation, basic marketing tools (products, pricing, place/distribution and promotion), e-Commerce total quality management, adult literacy and basic French language.
Furthermore, constraints of women-owned businesses were identified and the need for more training was highlighted, especially on how to make products fit for the international market, access to coaching services, as well as a legal body to be setup to help businesswomen have access to legal assistance.