Diplomats from Japan, Mali, Rwanda and Angola Tuesday presented their letters of credence to President Barrow of the Gambia at the State House.
Presenting their credentials, Shigero Omori of Japan, Binta Kane–Cisse of Mali, Dr Mathias Harebamungu of Rwanda and Daniel Antonio Rosa expressed the desire of their governments to strengthen bilateral ties with the Gambia.
They delivered messages of solidarity and brotherhood to President Barrow, while they congratulated him on his accession to the presidency.
The four ambassadors expressed their commitment to further strengthen ties with the Gambia beyond the diplomatic front to other areas of development. These include youth empowerment, agriculture, trade, tourism, security, information technology, governance, fisheries and petroleum.
Receiving the letters of credence, President Barrow thanked the ambassadors and through them their respective heads of state. He recalled the support provided to him during the political impasse in the Gambia.
Mr Barrow expressed his willingness to build on the cordial relations that exist between the Gambia and Japan, Mali, Rwanda and Angola respectively. He added that the political will of African leaders could make African integration a reality.
In addition to the presentation of his credentials, the Japanese Ambassador Omori demonstrated the seriousness with which his government was prepared to support the Gambia with rice worth D110 milliom, and U$1.5 million for youth empowerment through the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in partnership with the International Organisation on Migration (IOM) and US$1 million for youth participation in agriculture.
The Gambia’s Foreign Affairs minister, Ousainou Darboe and Ambassador Shigeru Omori signed the cooperation agreement.
