The
Gambia and Senegal have signed a bilateral fisheries and aquaculture agreement
to strengthen both countries fishing industries.
The
agreement was made by the presidents of The Gambia and Senegal during President
Barrow’s historic visit to Senegal, to strengthen the already existing sisterly
ties between the two countries.
The
signing ceremony, held at Kairaba Beach Hotel, was attended by the Minister of
Fisheries and Water Resources, James Gomez, and the Minister of Fisheries and
Maritime of Senegal, Omar Gaye, as well as technical experts from both
countries.
They
was also agreed that experts from both countries would later meet in Dakar to
discuss more on trade and goods moving within the two countries’ borders.
The
Senegalese minister, Mr Gaye, said the fishing agreement would boost the Gambian
fishing industry because, as part of the agreement, every year, five Gambians
would be trained at the Dakar School of Maritime.
The
Gambian minister, James Gomez, said the Banjul government intends to create
youth employment, especially in the fishing industry, through capacity building
and job creation.
“The
Senegambia relationship will be stronger as we inherited it from history. Job
creation will give us the opportunity to sustain our assets, sustain our
development, and I urged Senegambian people to work together to develop both
countries,” he said.
The
Senegalese ambassador to The Gambia, Salieu Ndiaye, thanked the presidents of
The Gambia and Senegal for signing the bilateral agreement.