The Vice President and Minister of Women’s Affairs, Dr. Isatou Njie-Saidy yesterday, Tuesday 23 July, deputizing for the Gambian leader, laid the foundation stone for the new project of Trade Facilitation Through Increased Logistics Infrastructure and Services worth US$ 3 million dollars at Banjul International Airport. The Vice President reading the statement of the President told participants that the project is a significant milestone on the development of the country. “I am happy to note that the project we are launching today will include the construction of a cargo complex with modern equipment at this airport.
The project includes a civil works component for a warehouse that will be furnished with cold storage and other facilities to handle air cargo. I take note of the component that will build human capacity by training staff of the Gambia International Airlines,” said President Jammeh. The Gambian leader told participants that the project was hatched through the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) Tier 2 which seeks to increase participation in international trade thereby improving livelihoods in tourism, horticulture and fisheries export sub-sector.
These sectors, which he said, are among the main sources of employment and income for women command high priorities in his development agenda as enshrined in Vision 2020. He complains about the underutilized potentials of the fisheries and horticulture sub-sectors due to the lack of adequate storage and distribution system. President Jammeh urged Gambians to take ownership of national institutions rather than unduly depending on expatriate labour. The training to be provided, he said, includes sanitary and phytosanitary services, expertise that has been lacking in the country’s international trade systems.
He said he has been informed that the project would enable the Banjul International Airport to enhance its safety and security standards in handling cargo through the provision of more scanners among other facilities. The vice president pointed out that with these improvements, the number of airlines serving, and accepting cargo from The Gambia, would increase.
“The $2.4 million grant from EIF’s Tier 2 that will finance this project will enable the GIA to charge competitive rates for air cargo. Therefore, we anticipate an increase in the number of small holder exporters that will have access to competitive new airport infrastructure and services.
With these new facilities, The Gambia’s image will be further enhanced, positioning the country as an attractive freight cargo entrepot in the sub-region thereby boosting our potential for economic growth especially in the area of exports,” he said.
The Gambian leader indicated that the oversight responsibility for the implementation of the project rests on the Ministry of Trade. However, he said the GIA would be the implementing Agency and the private sector would be the beneficiaries. He calls for the need for proper handling and regular maintenance of the facilities. Hon. Abdou Kolley, Minister of Trade asserted that the project would remove obstacles by facilitating trade for the country. Among other things, he said the new cargo complex is expected to boost the status of the airport in contributing to the livelihood of horticulture and tourism.
He commended the Gambia International Airlines (GIA) for coming with such laudable initiative. However, Ms Naffie Barry, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade/ EIF Focal Point also highlighted the logistics involved in initiating the project while Ms. Dorothy Tembo, Executive Director of the (EIF) Executive Secretariat at the World Trade Organisation reaffirmed the intentions of her organization to work with the Gambia Government.
She spoke on the need for additional efforts for the facilitation of trade in the country’s economic growth. She emphasized the commitments of her institution for trade related assistance for Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
Meanwhile, the remarks made by Mr. Abdoulie E. Jammeh, Director General of the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and Mr. Bakary Nyassi, Managing Director of (GIA) both hailed the project as a milestone on the development of the Banjul International Airport. They said the project would boost the confidence of the international airways to the GIA. They also said apart from revenue earning, it would also boost its pride among international competitors.
Source: http://foroyaa.gm/burning-issues/13801-us-3-million-new-cargo-complex-launched
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