Saudi Fund provides $12million to upgrade Gambia Airport
Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - The government of The Gambia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Monday signed a 12 million-dollar agreement to upgrade the Banjul International Airport, official sources told PANA here.
The agreement, signed by the head of the Saudi delegation, Yousef Al-Bassam, and The Gambian Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Mamboury Njie, was presided over by President Adama Barrow.
Al-Bassam, advisor to the managing director of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), also doubles as Chairman of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA)
The 45million-SAR equivalent new financing agreement is reported to inevitably improve and modernise the Banjul International Airport to meet the required standard in the aviation industry.
The project will further improve the infrastructural facilities of The Gambia in preparation for the upcoming OIC Summit in 2022.
Al-Bassam extolled the “excellent relationship” between Saudi Arabia and The Gambia, saying it made it possible for such agreements.
The current state of strengthened cooperation between the two brotherly countries was made possible through the perceptive foreign policy of President Adama Barrow.
“We assured His Excellency of the strong support of both the Saudi Fund and BADEA towards The Gambia’s success,” Al-Bassam said.
President Barrow expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the King and Crown Prince of the Saudi Kingdom for their continued support to the government and the people of The Gambia.
Al-Bassam expressed delight at the progress made on the on-going rehabilitation of the airport.
Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Njie commended the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their continued support to The Gambia.
-0- PANA MSS/RA 24Feb2020
