The Gambian president His Excellency Adama Barrow has inaugurated the country’s embassy complex in Saudi Arabia built at the tune of over D200 million.
Speaking at the event, the president said: “In May 2017, I visited the project when it was at the initial stages, and have since been requesting for updates periodically from the Ambassador.
“On behalf of The Government and People of The Gambia, and on my own behalf, I convey profound gratitude to him and The Crown Prince for the support they rendered through their competent officials. We are equally thankful to all those officials for working closely with our Embassy staff to accomplish this project successfully. I must admit that the structures are impressively beautiful and solid. They aptly reflect and symbolise the excellent bilateral relations and cordial bonds that so happily exist between the Governments and Peoples of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of The Gambia,” he said.
“I am proud that the Government of The Gambia undertook to fully fund the construction of this beautiful edifice to provide a conducive and secure office and residence for the Embassy and the Ambassador, respectively. Even though it took seven years to accomplish the project, it is a more sustainable arrangement and a model that could save the country annual rent payments of up to one hundred thousand US Dollars ($100,000). Indeed, it was worth investing over four million US Dollars to own this magnificent building and its furniture,” he said.
“Now that it is successfully completed, I advise that good care be taken for the upkeep and maintenance of the buildings and all the equipment and facilities therein to safeguard and preserve the value of these very precious Government assets. The structures can certainly serve as a model for replication in other Diplomatic Missions abroad. I will encourage the Ministry of Finance to emulate this positive example to construct other embassy offices and residences in countries where we have landed property, such as Senegal, Sierra Leone and Nigeria,” he added
Meanwhile, President Barrow has been in Saudi Arabia since 23 June, where he performed Umra and he is expected to return in the country today, 29 June.