Page 33 - UN Gambia 2020 CCA stakeholder consultations report

5 Education The low availability of skilled labor was identified as a major obstacle for The Gambia’s

and value systems economic transformation. Specialized skills are rare and those who attain higher education mostly lack

the practical skills to compete and take up new challenges in the labour market. There is a mismatch of

skills taught and what is required in the job market. Owing to this, investors and businesses are forced

to look outside the country for skilled labor.

Further, it was noted that people in the domestic labour market generally lack adequate work

ethics and employability, particularly young people are affected by attitudinal and behavioral issues.

6 Cost of Prohibitive interest rates and the high cost of capital were identified as the big deterrents in

Capital setting up new businesses and the expansion of existing ones. Thus, for The Gambia to spur economic

transformation and increase private sector investments, the authorities must ensure that interest

rates and the cost of capital are affordable to businesses and investors.

7 Infrastructure The Gambia must address the huge infrastructure gap in order to harness economic

transformation. Its infrastructure problems are thought to include, but not limited to, poor and erratic

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