State
House, Banjul, February 24, 2020 – His Excellency, President Adama Barrow
today, February 22, 2020 presided over the signing of a $12 million funding
agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of The Gambia at
the State House.
The agreement was signed by the head of the
Saudi delegation, Mr. Yousef I. Albassam as Advisor to the Managing Director of
the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), who doubles as Chairman of the Arab Bank
for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA). While the Minister of Finance and
Economic Affairs, Hon. Mamboury Njie, signed on behalf of The Gambia.
The SAR 45 million equivalent new financing
agreement is reported to inevitably improve and modernise the Banjul
International Airport to meet the required standard in the Aviation Industry.
The Project will further improve the infrastructural facilities of The Gambia
in preparation for the upcoming OIC Summit in 2022.
Mr.
Bassam extolled the “excellent relationship” between Saudi Arabia and The
Gambia, saying it makes it possible for such agreements. The current state of
strengthened cooperation between the two brotherly countries is at the height
thanks to His Excellency, President Adama Barrow’s perceptive foreign policy.
“We
assured His Excellency of the strong support of both the Saudi Fund and BADEA
towards The Gambia’s success,” Mr.Albassam said.
President
Adama Barrow expressed gratitude and appreciation to the King and the Crown
Prince of the Saudi Kingdom for their continued support to the government and
the people of The Gambia.
The
signing was followed by discussions with The Gambia OIC Secretariat on the
ongoing SFD’s funding for the OIC 2022 Islamic Summit in Banjul.
During
the talks, Mr. Yousef Al-Bassam expressed delight at the progress made on the
on-going rehabilitation of the airport.
The
Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs used the occasion to thank the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia for their continued support to The Gambia.
