Panafrican News Agency

Saudi Fund happy with project progress in Gambia

Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - Yousef I. Al-Bassam, Special Adviser of Saudi Fund for Development, on Tuesday expressed delight at the state of progress of the ongoing project implementation works ahead of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Summit slated for 2022.

Al-Bassam, head of a visiting delegation from the Saudi Fund for Development, made the remarks during a courtesy call on the Management of the OIC Secretariat in Banjul.

The visiting delegation flew into the Gambia to acquire first-hand information on the ongoing infrastructural works which are supposed to be completed before OIC Heads of State and Government Summit hosted by the West African nation.

Chief Executive Officer of the Banjul OIC Secretariat, Mr. Yankuba Dibba welcomed the delegation and thanked the Saudi Fund for their immense support to Gambia’s bid to host a successful summit.

‘’We cannot thank you enough for all you have done for us towards the summit. We are quite grateful,’’, Mr. Dibba remarked.

Dibba later led the delegation on a conducted tour of the facilities of the newly commissioned Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre. 

Meanwhile, the Saudi Fund for Development is one of Gambia’s foremost partners for the OIC projects providing financing for the building of a VIP Lounge at the Banjul International Airport, the construction of some 20 secondary urban roads, and the Electricity Network Enhancement Project and Rehabilitation of Water and Sanitation Networks Project, among others.

Heads of the implementing agencies of the various OIC projects like the National Road Authority, Gambia Civil Aviation Authority, and NAWEC were present to give a detailed presentation on the status of projects supported by the Saudi development agency.

Director of Water Services at NAWEC also thanked the Saudi Fund for coming to their aid in supporting the improvement of their generation and distribution capacities in both water and electricity components.

He said the projects could not have come at a better time and would go a long way in improving the living conditions of the Gambian people. 

It was revealed that short listing of consulting firms has been completed and soon the responsive bidder would be selected, and works would begin for the design phase.

Similar comments were made by the Managing Director of the National Roads Authority as well as the OIC Project Manager of GCCA, who stressed that they were on course to complete the building of the presidential lounge in time for the 2022 Summit.

Dibba later led the delegation on a  tour of the facilities of the newly commissioned Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre.

As part of the visit, the Saudi Fund delegation also signed a $12 million grant with Gambian government for the Airport Expansion Project.

-0- PANA MLJ/AR 26 Feb2020