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Gambia/Japan Sign Contract for Construction of Brikama Fish Market

Jan 16, 2009, 5:00 AM

The contract for the construction of Brikama fish market was officially signed in November last year by the Department of State for Fisheries, Water Resource and National Assembly Matters on behalf of the government of The Gambia and the contractors IWATA CHIZAKI Inc. Japan at the Ginza Nikko Hotel in TokyoJapan.

A media release from the Fisheries department states that Mr.Lamin Nyabally, Permanent Secretary, Department of State for Fisheries signed on behalf of The Gambia and Mr.Tooru FUKUSAKU, senior vice president of IWATA CHIZAKI Inc. signed for the contractors. Mr.Nyabally was accompanied to the signing ceremony by Mr.Ousman Mass Jobe, senior Fisheries Officer, extension and project coordinator Brikama fish market.

Brikama fish market aims to make fish easily available and affordable to the average Gambian whose main supply of food and protein in fish.

Apart from employment creation the release added, the fish market will greatly reduce post harvest loses through the provision of ice and a chill room for storage. This, it continued, will make it possible for Gambians to sell fish and good quality fish and fishery products in the distribution process. In addition, the market has the potential to reducing family expenditure on health by reducing the incidences of food poisoning. The construction of the fish market is expected to commence this month and to be completed by December.

The direct beneficiaries are fresh fish retailers who are operating at different locations in Brikama market, as they will be provided with 140 stalls with sinks for washing, gutting and sales of their fish.