By Amadou Manjang
The Republic of Türkiye has spent $347,400 (D24,665,400) on 16 projects under TIKA (Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency) in the Gambia in 2024.
F. Turker OBA, Turkey’s ambassador to the Gambia made this disclosure on Tuesday in a press conference at his residence in Brufut Garden.
The diplomatic relations between Türkiye and The Gambia dates back to the Gambia’s independence in 1965. The bilateral relations were initially advanced exclusively in the military domain as well as at the international forums but have now become more comprehensive and multifaceted after the opening of embassies in Banjul and Ankara in 2011.
According to Ambassador, F. Turker OBA, the bilateral relations are mutually beneficial to both Gambia and Türkiye.
On the 16 projects, the embassy donated equipment to Kanilai TVAC Center (USET) worth D2,059,000 ($29,000); to the National Record Service worth D852,000 ($12,000); to GAFTS worth D1,065,000 ($15,000 ); to GRTS before OIC Summit worthy D1,917,000 ($27,000); and to Tanka Tanka Psychiatric Hospital worth D1,136,000 ($16,000).
The equipment support to Tanka Tanka will soon be delivered to The Gambian authorities, the ambassador said. The embassy also supported the Airport Landscaping Project for the Banjul Airport Police Unit at Banjul Airport worth D1,491,000 ($21,000 ).
The embassy also supports projects on reducing mother-infant mortality. It spent D497,000 ($7,000 ) on phase I; D1917,000 ($27,000) on Phase II; and D5,254,000 ($74,000) on Phase III.
It also sponsored Iftar program at Gambian Supreme Islamic Council worth D170,400 ($2,400) as well as the Brikama Area Council-BAC waste project -worth D1,207,000 ($17,000).
Also, it supported the expansion of the green area in UTG Faraba Banta Campus worth D106, 500 ($1,500). It also supported the Travel expenses of the Gambian Team to attend the robot competition in Erzurum worth D532,500 ($7,500 )
Furthermore, it supported women’s garden-Pirang Village worth D2,343,000 ($33,000). The embassy supported the project of building a market and 16 vending stalls for women at Banjulinding Village (Brikama Road) worth D2,343,000 ($33,000).
It also supported the capacity-building training in Ankara for High Court Judges and Magistrates worth D1,775,000 ($25,000).
The ambassador also stated that the Internal Affairs Counsellor-Ministry of Interior Turkish Gendarmerie has provided training-OIC Summit preparations for 189 security officers between December 2023 and March 2024. It also provided scholarships for 7 GPF members in Turkiye at Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Academy as well as provided equipment to GPF including 3 drones and security equipment, riot gear for 50 personnel worth D1,100,500 ($15,550 )
According to the Ambassador, the riot gear for 50 personnel will soon arrive in The Gambia.
On trade, he said in the first 11 months of 2024, the export to the Gambia is worth 73.95 million dollars, and imports from the Gambia to Turkey 7.04 million dollars.
