Three Gambian entrepreneurs were awarded by the Ecowas Commission at the end of the Third Sub-Regional Business Forum held recently in the Ivorian capital, Abidjan.

The recipients -Sankung Sillah and Sons Limited, Taf Holding Company owned by Mustapha Njie, and Pristine Consulting owned by Abdou Rahman Touray, were among 45 companies honoured for "innovation and entrepreneurship" at the end of the Forum. The awards were presented at a Gala dinner chaired by the chief executive of the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce, Mam Cherno Jallow.

It would be recalled that all 15 Ecowas member countries organised the competition at the national level and each country came up with a winner to represent it at the regional level. The Gambia was represented by Abdourahman Touray of Pristine Consulting, for Young Entrepreneur Award, while Sankung Sillah and Sons represented the country for the Innovation in Energy Award. They took 4th and 6th positions respectively.

TAF Holding Company did not participate in the competition but was placed in the category of business companies in Ecowas member states that have contributed enormously to the success of business in their respective countries.

The candidate for Benin, Alain Capo-Chichi, emerged the Ecowas Young Entrepreneur; while LYNAYS SARL, a Company from Cote d'Ivoire emerged the winner in the category of Innovation in Energy. Burkina Faso was named best country in the implementation of the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons. Bai Matarr Drammeh, the president of the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) who was also a member of the regional award selection committee reviewed the documents of the candidates and conducted interviews for the winners.

The awards were introduced by the Ecowas Commission as a way of recognising innovation and entrepreneurship as important tools for enhancing regional competitiveness and development. Earlier at the closing ceremony, delegates recommended the speedy implementation of priority regional projects for power production and interconnections by the West Africa Power Pool WAPP.

The forum also urged the sub-regional body to strengthen the capacity of the Ecowas Centre for Promotion of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. Member countries were further urged to strengthen rural electrification provision mechanism, while Ecowas was impressed upon to encourage low cost and greener initiatives in the provision of energy to rural communities.

On the business and policy environment, Ecowas was tasked to create a regional legal framework to guarantee private investment in the energy sector as well as develop and enforce an inward looking strategy, which promotes the use of local environmentally friendly and less energy demanding materials. The meeting also called on member states to adopt and ratify the Ecowas Protocol on Energy which defines the regulation, roles and responsibilities of states in the process of the development of the sector.

On the issue of funding, delegates recommended that Ecowas should be more engaged and provide assistance to private entrepreneurs to facilitate the attraction of funds from international partners for the development of energy projects. They also urged member states to inject more financial resources towards rehabilitation and maintenance of existing infrastructure. Teneng-ba Jaiteh, the Gambian deputy minister of Energy delivered the vote of thanks.