The Daily Observer Company on Saturday, launched its maiden edition of the Observer Business Magazine at a colourful ceremony held at the Sunbeach Hotel and Resort in Cape Point, Bakau.

The launching ceremony, which coincided with the 15 years anniversary of the Daily Observer, was presided over by Dr Aja Isatou Njie Saidy, Vice- President and Secretary of State for Women Affairs. Mrs. Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, Secretary of State for Communication and Information Technology and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Observer Company (Gambia) Ltd, Mustapha Njie, CEO Taf Holding Company, and a cross section of the business community, as well as representatives from different media houses attended the ceremony.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Hamidou Baldeh, Sales and Marketing Manager at the Observer Company, said the launching of the magazine marks a critical milestone in setting of the scene for a real response to the business sector. He added that the magazine packaged to help create more awareness about information, economy, health, social welfare, entertainment, sports, life and society amongst others.

For her part, Mrs. Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, Secretary of State for Communication and Information Technology and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Observer Company, said the coming up of this publication coincides with an intensification of the information revolution fanned by a consumer society that needs up-to-date, reliable information for the daily economic and business decisions they make. She added that the publication, among other things, is meant to showcase the products and activities at the private sector as major players in the economy. It reflects the realities of The Gambia, and is a medium through which the trends and events in the Gambia economy can be viewed.

According to SoS Gaye, the achievement of Observer Group of Companies including the Daily Observer is a clear testimony that the company is a leader in the information revolution, a pace setter and positive change agent attune with needs of the society vis-a-vis reliable, timely information for economic decision making.

Mustapha Njie, Chief Executive Officer at Taf Holding Company who launched the magazine said the coming of the magazine will boost the business community’s moral, thereby enabling them to showcase their products and services through a reliable, efficient and well-informed magazine. He then pledged 250 copies of the business magazine to be distributed among senior Secondary Schools in the country.

Speaking earlier, Dr Alieu Badara Sarja Taal, Managing Director of the Observer Company (Gambia) Ltd, commended all those who contributed towards the successful launching of this maiden edition of the Observer Business Magazine.

Dilating on the significance of the emergence of the magazine on our media environment, he said over the years, people come from different countries to gather information, which are sometimes not factual and present the country from their own perspective. He added that Gambians are also on a better position to portray the business activities on a journal, which is home grown. “We have the capacity to produce magazine that any country is producing with the same quality. The community deserves to know the development trends taking place on the business community”, he emphasised.

Beatrice Prom, acting Chief Executive Officer at the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), who deputised for the President of GCCI, expressed similar sentiments. Ebrima Jaw Manneh, News-Editor of the Daily Observer, delivered the vote of thanks while Ousman Darboe, another News-Editor, chaired the ceremony.