Taiwan boosts Gambian women

The ambassador of the republic of China on Taiwan last Friday presented a cheque valued at about one million dalasis to the recently launched National Federation of Gambian Women (NFGW).

The cheque was presented on behalf of the women of Taiwan to the Vice-President and Minister of Women Affairs, Dr Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy, at her office in Banjul.

In trying to boost the capacity of women organisations and groups, as well as to enable government, the NFGW continues to provide meaningful support to women’s groups.

In presenting the cheque, the Taiwanese ambassador to The Gambia, Dr Richard Shih, said the gesture came as a result of a visit to the country by five female parliamentarians from Taiwan, who took part in the July 22nd celebration. The money is meant to empower women economically and to promote their rights, he says.

The Taiwanese diplomat applauded the Gambian women for their hard work and dedication to nation building.

Vice-President Njie-Saidy, upon receiving the cheque, thanked the Taiwanese women groups through ambassador Shih for the gesture. She described the intervention as timely.

She also used the occasion to appeal for more support for the country’s women and further appealed on their behalf  for a food processing and packaging plant.

For her part, Hon. Fatou Mbye, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and chairperson of the National Women's Council, commended also their Taiwanese counterpart for the support. Supporting the womenfolk means helping the entire nation, she says.

Other speakers at the ceremony included the Women’s Bureau executive director Ida Faye Hydara.

Ambassador Shih was accompanied to State House by his deputy,  Herman T.C. Chiu.