The
Lincoln University College – an Agrotechnology institute in Malaysia has made a
yearly pledge of D3 million to support the Ministry of Fisheries and Water
Resources to develop and manage the fisheries sector in The Gambia.
Officials
said the total pledge of D15 million will be disbursed to the ministry within
five years.
This
was disclosed to journalists on Thursday during the signing of a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions at a ceremony held at the
Fisheries Ministry in Banjul.
The
first payment of D3 million has already been deposited at the Central Bank of
The Gambia on Wednesday, officials confirmed.
The
MoU also seeks to strengthen research and educational promotion of marine
resources and related industries, investment and technical marine resources as
well as establishment and organisation of international education and training
on marine resources among other issues.
Speaking
at the signing ceremony, the minister of Fisheries, James Furmos Peter Gomez,
expressed gratitude to the Malaysian ambassador, saying their ambition was to
see how best to satisfy the Gambian people by putting food on the table.
The
MoU, he said will help in capacity building and create employment. He thus
called on Gambians to take advantage of the relationship as “we go forward.”
He
assured them that his ministry will follow the principles of the signed
agreement.
Tan
Sir Dr. Aixinjueluo Yahao, the ambassador at large, thanked the government of
The Gambia for accepting the partnership and assured of their willingness to
help Gambia with more collaboration.
The
permanent secretary at the Ministry of Fisheries, Dr. Bamba A.M. Banja, said
the MoU would help to strengthen research and educational promotion of marine
resources and other related industries. He added it will also promote the
research, development application and agglomeration of related industries to
promote the development of fish farming and processing industries among others.
He
said the MoU would also establish, and organise international forum and
conference in the field of marine resources.
He
finally described the move as the biggest achievement of his ministry in 2019
and hailed the Malaysian government for more support partnership.
