Gambia, Qatar sign four new bilateral agreements

Banjul, Gambia (PANA)    -   Gambian President Adama Barrow and the Emir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, on Wednesday signed four new Memoranda of Understanding and bilateral agreements between their governments.

A statement made available to PANA by the presidency stated that the agreements entailed mutual cooperation in the sectors of communications, judiciary, customs, and youth and sports.

President Barrow arrived Tuesday in Qatar on a working visit.

 The various ministers of information and communication, justice, and foreign affairs signed the agreements on behalf of The Gambia with their respective Qatari counterparts.

According to the statement, the two governments agreed to operate in each other’s territories in the service areas of satellite communication.

The Gambian minister of transport and communications, Ebrima Sillah, signed the agreement with the Qatari minister of transport and communications, Jasim Saif Al-Sulaiti.

Touching on mutual administrative assistance, the statement said both parties agreed to exchange information between the customs authorities of the two countries.

The Qatari Minister of Finance, Ali Sharif Al-Emadi, signed with the minister of Foreign Affairs of The Gambia, Dr. Mamadou Tangara.

The agreement on legal affairs involved capacity enhancement of the judicial systems of both countries, through experience sharing.

The two countries also agree to cooperate and assist each other in the area of customs law enforcement, focusing on two specific areas, namely, "Administrative Assistance for Optional Application of Customs Law" and "the Repression, Investigation and Combating of Customs Violations".

The minister of Justice, Aboubacarr Tambadou, signed for the Gambia while Essa Saad Jaffal Al- Naimi signed for Qatar.

On youth and sports, The Gambia and Qatar agreed to promote friendly exchange of youth camps and football tournaments between the two countries.

Tangara and the Sport and Culture Minster of Qatar, Salah Ghanim Al-Ali signed on behalf of their respective governments.

Among the president's other engagements in Qatar was a meeting with the chief executive officer (CEO) of Qatar Charity, where they discussed a possible partnership to have the organization begin operations in The Gambia.

The non-governmental organization covers areas of health, water supply, and education.

President Barrow also visited the Qatar National Museum.

-0-    PANA     MSS/RA     11Sept2019