By Kebba Ansu Manneh
President Adama Barrow has revealed that trade volumes between the Republic of The Gambia and the People’s Republic of China has significantly rose to five hundred and seventy million dollars ($570million) in less than five years since the renewal of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 2017.
President Barrow made this revelation over the weekend in Basse, where Gambian government inaugurated eighty one million dollar ($81million) China Aid Road and Bridges Project for Upper River Region.
Diplomatic ties between the two countries have been reestablished in 2013, after the severing of relations between the Republic of The Gambia and China on Taiwan by former President Yahya Jammeh’s regime.
Speaking on the importance of the existing bilateral relations, President Barrow disclosed that, the bilateral relations between the two countries is based on sincerity, mutual gains and good faith, adding that this has been attested by great improvements registered in the trade links between the two countries.
“In 2020, the trade volume between our two countries reaches five hundred and seventy million dollars ($570m). Out of this, The Gambia imported goods worth $540 million and exported goods worth $30million.” President Barrow revealed.
According to him, export to trading cooperation increased from 5.7 percent in 2019 to 11.6 percent in 2020, adding that beside trade expansions the relations and the cooperation between our two nations facilitated key development projects for The Gambia.
“The Gambia National Broadband Project and the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre with a combine portfolio of seventy five million dollars ($75m) are sufficient examples. These projects exclude the technical assistance we received from the agriculture and health sectors,” Barrow revealed.
President Barrow emphasized that the eighty one million dollar ($81) Basse road and bridges project was a grant donated by People’s Republic of China, adding that the project covers four components, namely Basse-Koina Road, Basse-Wuli Bridge and link roads, Fatoto Bridge and link roads, Chamoi and Suduwol bridges.
President Barrow reassured the government and Peoples Republic of China of Gambia’s commitment to deepen and strengthen the existing bilateral relationship, adding that new frontiers that includes cultural exchanges and expansion of trade and investment on a win-win situation.
“We will continue to work together on global and regional issues. In this regard, I would like to reaffirm Gambia’s support of the One China Policy which recognises the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Peoples Republic of China,” President Barrow disclosed.
