PS Mbye hails Tianjin visit, sees lessons for Gambia’s development

Speaking to OVP Media after a series of site visits by Vice President Mohammed B.S. Jallow and his delegation, Mr. Mbye said the tour exposed the team to advanced models of development in infrastructure, education, technology and cultural preservation.

The delegation visited several key institutions, including the Tianjin Cultural Center, Smart Port Zero Carbon Terminal, Tianjin Eco-City, Tianjin Light Industry Vocational Technical College, and the historic Tianjin Ancient Culture Street.

Mr. Mbye said one of the strongest impressions from the visit was China’s deliberate effort to preserve its cultural identity alongside rapid modernization.

“It is a very good visit and one fundamental principle is the preservation of their culture and that is their identity. I think that is really a lesson for all of us to learn from,” he said.

According to him, Tianjin presents a clear example of how culture and development can coexist, with modern infrastructure built without erasing historical and cultural heritage.

The Permanent Secretary also pointed to the Smart Port Zero Carbon Terminal as a striking example of efficiency and innovation. He noted that the system’s heavy reliance on automation and remote control operations demonstrated the future of modern logistics.

“You could see workers are mainly in the control room. The way work is being done there is very impressive and it is something we can definitely learn from,” he said.

He added that the Eco-City project further demonstrated how sustainable urban planning can be integrated into national development strategies, particularly for fast-growing cities.

However, it was the visit to the Tianjin Light Industry Vocational Technical College that stood out most for Mr. Mbye, who linked it directly to The Gambia’s youth and skills development priorities.

“This is where I am very much particular about and interested,” he said. “Looking at the demographic weight of our youth population and the skills demand back home, this college presents a real opportunity for collaboration.”

He highlighted potential partnerships through initiatives such as the Luban Workshop, a Chinese vocational training model that has been introduced in several countries to enhance technical and industrial skills transfer.

Mr. Mbye said such collaboration could play a key role in addressing youth unemployment and improving technical capacity in The Gambia, especially in emerging fields such as robotics, engineering and industrial technology.

In a further boost, he confirmed that China has increased scholarship opportunities for Gambian students and professionals, allowing more young people to access higher education and technical training in Chinese institutions.

“We will engage the Chinese Embassy for further collaboration to see how much we can benefit from this,” he said.

The Tianjin visit forms part of Vice President Jallow’s ongoing official trip to China aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation between Banjul and Beijing. The delegation’s engagements are expected to deepen ties in education, trade, technology and cultural exchange.

Mr. Mbye said the exposure gained from the tour should not be viewed as symbolic, but rather as a practical learning experience with direct applications for national development planning.

He emphasized that countries like The Gambia can draw valuable lessons from China’s structured approach to industrialization, urban planning and human capital development.

The Gambia and China have maintained strong diplomatic relations over the years, with cooperation expanding in infrastructure, capacity building and development assistance.

Officials believe that the lessons from Tianjin, particularly in vocational training and smart infrastructure, could help shape future policy direction as The Gambia continues to invest in youth empowerment and economic transformation.