The EU has therefore earmarked a total of 228.6 million Euros to help the government carry out three projects in strategic areas such as the Banjul Port, the Bakoteh Dumpsite, and 1,000-school electrification.
The ports project, which is the Port of Banjul 4th Expansion project, and under preparation, will be supported with EUR82.6 million of which EUR64 million is a concessional loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and a grant of EUR18.6 million from the European Union budget.
The dumpsite project, which is captured under the Gambia Integrated Waste Management project, and under preparation, will attract EUR 40 million.
And the school electrification project, covered in the ongoing Gambia Electricity Restoration and Modernization Project (GERMP), will be supported with EUR 106 million of which EUR 65 million is a concessional loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and a grant of EUR 41 million from the European Union budget.
The EU Ambassador, Corrado Pampaloni, met with President Adama Barrow at State House on Tuesday 4 June to discuss the collaboration and the planned support for the projects and their economic benefits to the people of The Gambia.
Considering the investment in the Banjul Ports, which the government is currently negotiating for expansion, the President said: "Negotiations are slow, but we are positive about improving the Ports because it is linked with business enhancements and hidden prices affecting the cost of living, especially imported goods."
As regards the electrification of 1,000 schools across The Gambia, an ongoing project which was slowed down due to technical issues that have now been resolved, the President affirmed that the solarisation of schools would be a game changer, giving assurance of his government's commitment to providing the necessary counterpart funds.
Discussion on the Bakoteh dumpsite project of 40 million Euros also looked at creating a modern site for waste segregation into organic material.
The dumpsite project seeks to reduce pollution and enhance the nation's economy and youth employment. Again, President Barrow pledged his government's commitment and directed that a committee of relevant stakeholders be established or set up to work on the implementation.
In a related development, the European Union and the Ministry of Finance have agreed to sign a highly strategic YEP Tourism project worth 10 million Euros, which aims to train experts and boost youth employment.
"These are signs of our genuine partnership," President Barrow said, while thanking Ambassador Corrado Pampaloni for “the EU support to the SSR”, a barometer of democracy and good governance in the country.
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