Reliance Financial Services, Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the International Finance Cooperation last Friday certified 68 graduates after their successful completion of a six-day course in skill development and small micro-enterprises (SDME) sales & marketing, access to finance among others.

The ceremony brought together shareholders of Reliance Finance Services and staff of both GCCI and IFC at a ceremony held at Reliance Training Room along Kairaba Avenue.

In his welcoming remarks, Babucarr Khan, Chief Executive Officer  of Reliance Financial Services, said the two and half month course covered  areas in the Business and Marketing Industry.  He expressed hope that the graduates will be very much instrumental in running and improving the affairs of business”. 

He then urged them to try and inculcate the spirit of competency and expertise they acquired during the training in their businesses with immediate effect in order for them to realise the benefits.

For her part, Charlotte Ndow, International Finance Cooperation (IFC) representative based in Senegal commended the three institutions for organising what she described as an educative program that will boost the morale of business industries in The Gambia. 

She disclosed that the IFC advisory program has three objectives which include the improvement of small micro-enterprise environment, develop capacities of the business membership organisations and also offer direct support to small micro-enterprises.

Ms Beatrice Allen of GCCI said her institution is proud to be associated with the event which is based on a partnership agreement between the GCCI, IFC and Reliance Financial Services to upgrade the skills of SMEs and enhance their capacity to be able to manage their business, improve on profit making and enable them to access loans.

Ms Allen said the framework for the provision of a sound trade and investment promotion strategy is based on a partnership initiative with other stakeholders.  “This is why the GCCI has partnered with the IFC and Reliance Financial Services with the aim of building SME capacities for the expansion of their business.