Turkey has continued to render significant support in development initiative to the Government of The Gambia. Türkey’s strategic direction, especially towards most African nations, is one geared towards further deepening cooperation in the areas of value chain development, trade diversification, technology transfer, and joint infrastructure investments.
With vast expertise in agricultural innovation and agriculture-based industrial development, The Gambia could draw lessons from their Turkish counterpart to see how best they can help to improve our agriculture sector.
The Government of Turkey has supported The Gambia in the past in training our security sectors stakeholders. This is in view of the fact that security is a cross-cutting issue that needs regular rehearsals to maintain its relevance. Health is another aspect in which Turkey has been actively supporting the country’s health care sector. Health is wealth and he who supports one in that regard gives you all.
Mr President, energy investment is integral in this day and age with boom in investment, technology and innovation. We have seen Turkish companies partnering with government to ensure there is enough energy to power local businesses.
And recently, Turkey and The Gambia signed a landmark energy agreement on the sidelines of the just concluded 5th Turkey-Africa Economic and Business Forum. The move is not only timely but also crucial in enhancing renewable energy investment in the country. It will help a great deal to cement the existing bilateral and investment ties between Ankara and Banjul.
It is true that the global economic landscape is undergoing significant stress due to inflation pressures, disrupted supply chains, climate shocks, and increasingly geopolitical tensions. Amid these evolving experiences, it is important that your government consolidates the gains by forging a more resilient partnership and building on shared values in co-investments. Also, forging trade partnerships between Gambian businesses and their Turkish counterparts would help greatly in creating more wealth, while encouraging value chain development, trade diversification, technology transfer, and joint infrastructure investments.
From manufacturing to agro-processing, digital and health innovation, women and youth, and infrastructure development, the two countries can work closely in harnessing the existing opportunities.
It is important to always remind ourselves that for more than 30 years, Turkey- Africa partnership has been growing stronger, thus it is now not only transactional, but also transformational. Indeed, Türkey is not a visitor in Africa but a trusted partner that is committed to Africa’s growth. This is easily visible with the number of agreements reached between Turkey and African countries.
Mr President, education is key and integral in any country’s development. The Republic of Turkey continues to stand by the Republic of The Gambia in awarding scholarship to a number of Gambian students to pursue different courses in Turkey. This is indeed laudable. These students, who will graduate from Turkish universities would greatly help to add values to the country’s development workforce.
Efficient and affordable transportation system is indispensable in any development. With a robust and sound transport system, civil servants, school children, students, market vendors, to name few, who commute from all over the Greater Banjul Area and parts of West Coast Region will experience hitch-free movement, especially when going to their different workplaces. For years, some commuters have been experiencing transport nightmares, especially at weekends. It is important the two countries work together to address this loophole to ensure there is efficient transport system in the country.
Mr President, it is true that the world is interconnected and in view of this fact, it is important for your government to create a friendly business atmosphere to attract more foreign investors. This could be through government-to-government relations, or by encouraging Public-Private Partnership (PPP). Over time, there is growing call for governments to promote PPP, which is now seen as a viable idea in promoting rapid investment and development.
To this end, we call on private sector businesses to embrace and enhance more partnerships, especially from Turkish private sector operators. The more we have foreign investments in the country, the more jobs would be created for thousands of youths.
Finally, Mr President, the government has identified a site in Lamin, where a new national stadium will be built. This is indeed laudable and key in a broader move towards reshaping the country’s sports landscape.
Gambians generally love sport, especially football. It is true that recently a greater number of the country’s home matches, played outside the country, specifically for the past three years, has affected our chances to win our home matches. This is due to lack of proper facilities to host international games as per FIFA new rules. In this light, we call on the government to reach out to the Turkish government to also help in the construction of this would-be new standard stadium in Lamin.
Good day!