By Fatou Dahaba
The Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute (GTHI), on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, announced plans and preparations to hold the maiden food and beverage exposition and conference in The Gambia slated for March 26 to 28, 2023.
The officials of the GTHI told reporters at a press conference that the proposed event aims to promote and showcase Gambia’s locally-made food and beverage products and provide a platform for young entrepreneurs and businesses to promote their products and services.
The event will provide a platform for small and medium-sized enterprises in the food production areas, established restaurants and hotels, and catering institutions to exhibit their products and services to the public.
It will also promote lifelong exposure to businesses, improving the standards of food services in the Gambia and providing quality food and beverage for Gambians to promote healthy eating habits.
They also hope to create a memorable experience in the Gambian hospitality industry on the theme, “Taste of Gambia; embarking on a green culinary journey through local flavors.”
The Director General of GTHI, Mr. Muhammed Lamin Singhateh, said the event would create awareness to encourage healthy eating by using local ingredients and products.
“We want to promote our local cuisine like other African countries. And even economically, it will empower our local businesses,” he said.
The Assistant Research Office and Head of Communication of GTHI, Ms. Fatou Sillah, said the exhibition would feature dedicated beverage and food sections divided into different categories.
“The beverage section; of this category will offer a wide selection of drinks to cater to different preferences, and the tropical island section: this category will feature a range of fresh fruits and juices to refresh and revitalize attendees,” she confirmed.
The “Purely Gambian section: will feature traditional Gambian cuisine. Attendees can sample authentic Gambian dishes and experience the country’s rich culinary heritage. Other cuisines section: will offer diverse international dishes; attendees can explore and indulge in different flavors worldwide,” Fatou added.
A staff of GTHI, Maimuna Dibba, stressed that the program would exclusively be about food and beverages to provide a platform for people to network, interact, and share knowledge in promoting diversity in Gambian foods.
The food and beverages exposition will occur at the Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute’s Garden, with target groups including local businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises, established restaurants and hotels, food suppliers, kitchen stores, and catering institutions.
