By Fatou Gassama
The Gambia Youth Chamber of Commerce (GYCC) has secured a strategic partnership with two leading Chinese business organisations following a high-level meeting in Beijing this week, in a move that could open new doors for young Gambian entrepreneurs seeking access to international markets, skills training, and investment.
The GYCC delegation led by Board President Mr Modou Lamin Gassima, alongside CEO Miss Jarry Sowe and senior member Mr Mustapha Jarju held talks with representatives of the China Packaging Federation (CPF) and the China Young Entrepreneurs Association (CYEA). The discussions centered on trade facilitation, skills transfer, packaging innovation, and expanded market access for youth-led businesses in The Gambia.
The GYCC described the engagement as a turning point in its efforts to connect Gambian youth to global value chains.
Speaking at the meeting, CEO Miss Jarry Sowe outlined the organization’s mandate and vision. “GYCC was established to support young Gambian entrepreneurs by providing access to training, markets, finance, and networks,” she said. “Our role is to ensure that young people in every community have the tools to start and grow businesses that create jobs.”
President Mr Modou Lamin Gassima focused his remarks on concrete pathways for collaboration. “We are proposing joint training programmes, technical support in packaging and agro-processing, mentorship exchanges, and business-to-business linkages between GYCC members and Chinese SMEs,” he said. “Our focus is practical cooperation that puts more Gambian youth in business and more Gambian products on shelves at home and abroad.”
The two Chinese organisations bring significant institutional weight to the partnership. The China Packaging Federation, founded in 1980, represents more than 1,700 members spanning packaging materials, equipment, design, and research, with international ties in over 20 countries. The China Young Entrepreneurs Association, established in 1985, is one of China’s largest youth business networks, with over 2,000 direct members and connections to nearly 200,000 young entrepreneurs nationwide.
Following the discussions, both parties agreed to pursue cooperation across five priority areas: youth enterprise development, packaging and value addition, market access and investment, research and innovation, and mentorship.
The GYCC confirmed that a technical working group will be established to finalize a detailed action plan, with the first exchanges and training programmes expected to roll out before the end of 2026.
