The Governments of The Gambia and Japan on Saturday signed a grant agreement for food assistance worth $2.337 million in Banjul, according to a statement made available to The Voice.
The grant, which will be used to buy rice, is part of Japan’s annual Official Development Assistance (ODA) to The Gambia.
Gambian Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Dr. Mamadou Tangara, described the grant as testament of Japan’s commitment to work closely with the Government of The Gambia to address its food security situation and also part of efforts aimed at elevating Gambia-Japan bilateral relations.
Dr. Tangara commended Japan for its level of support adding that Gambia is working towards intensifying collaboration in the areas of agriculture, infrastructural development and capacity building for the youth.
He called on the Japanese private sector to invest in potential sectors of Gambia’s economy.
For his part, Ambassador Arai said that the two countries have fruitful cooperation in the areas of education, health, fisheries and food assistance.
The food assistance, he adds, will alleviate food shortage, stabilise food prices and enhance socio-economic development through the utilisation of the counterpart fund.
He said human security is one of the main pillars of Japan’s ODA policies adding that the establishment of food security and food self-sufficiency holds a special importance in these policies.