CEO Almarshad briefed President Barrow on the signing of an agreement for the final phase of the 50-kilometre Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) road projects.
Recalling the longstanding cooperation between Saudi Arabia and The Gambia, which dates back to 1977, CEO Almarshad assured President Barrow of the Saudi Fund’s continued commitment to supporting the country’s development agenda.
Comparing his first visit to The Gambia in 2021 with his latest visit in 2026, Mr Almarshad said he had witnessed remarkable transformations in the country under President Barrow’s leadership.
He said the progress had encouraged the Saudi Fund to welcome proposals from The Gambia in areas including modern drainage systems, payment systems, submarine cables, telemedicine, sports and other national priorities.
Welcoming CEO Almarshad and his delegation, President Barrow described the Saudi Fund for Development as a reliable partner of The Gambia.
“The OIC meeting is over, but the legacy projects across The Gambia will outlive all of us. The impact of the OIC roads is visible, with massive investments in commercial buildings along the new highway and the construction of new hotels,” President Barrow said.
Beyond the real estate investments, President Barrow said the OIC roads had reduced travel time for commuters from two hours to 25 minutes. He added that the paved access roads had also helped reduce traffic congestion and flooding.
Before 2017, The Gambia had approximately 800 kilometres of paved roads. Since 2017, under President Barrow, at least 1,500 kilometres of tarred roads have been constructed, while development approval has been granted for an additional 1,200 kilometres of roads across the country beyond 2026.
The Gambian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, His Excellency Mambury Njie, and the Ministers of Finance and Works, Seedy Keita and Ebrima Sillah, respectively, accompanied CEO Sultan Abdourahman Almarshad to State House, along with senior officials from their respective ministries.
