by Mariatou Ngum
Communication Officer, MoTIE
The smiles said it all at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment (MoTIE) as staff of the Ministry took delivery of a brand new Toyota Land Cruiser Double Cabin Pickup, IT equipment, and information materials donated by the GIZ to MoTIE.
Hon Baboucarr Ousmaila Joof, Employment Minister received the keys and other donated equipment from Mr. Kawsu Sillah, the National Coordinator and Head of the Advisory Centre at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) at a ceremony held on Monday at the Ministry’s ground in Banjul.
The Global Programme Migration for Development (PME), commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH donated the vehicle to support the Ministry, particularly the Department of Labour (DOL) to achieve the goals of National Employment Policy and Action Plan 2022-2026.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Minister Joof described the occasion as a great moment for the ministry. On behalf of the President of the Republic, Mr. Adama Barrow, Cabinet Ministers, and the entire government, he thanked GIZ for being a very valuable partner. As a government, he said, they have a responsibility to do everything possible to make employment in The Gambia available and rewarding and that is where the ministry should come in with their policies to make sure that the environment is conducive.
“This vehicle is a very good addition in terms of human capacity and this is an exciting moment for us and I look forward to this having impact on the administration of labour in this country. I urge you to take very good care of the vehicle,” he urged DOL.
Minister Joof further thanked GIZ, while looking forward to working with them closer and stronger to ensure that they all work together to reduce the chances and possibilities of people taking the perilous journey.
For her part, Ndeye Fatou Trawally, the deputy permanent secretary at MoTIE, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary thanked GIZ for the laudable support while expressing hope that it will continue.
Mr. Fabba Jammeh, the director of the Directorate of Employment, commended GIZ for the donation of the vehicle as well as IT equipment to the Ministry and the DOL, noting that GIZ has supported the department in their job centers and also donated this vehicle today for employment service purposes.
The GIZ National Coordinator, Kawsu Sillah, stated that GIZ is a technical implementing agency of the German Federal Government and they act on behalf of the German Government to implement its foreign policy objectives in partner countries.
In The Gambia, he disclosed, they have 3 projects among them is the Migration Project under which they are jointly implementing the Advisory Centre and its mandate is mainly on employment promotion because it has been the intention of Germany and partner countries to address the issues of migration.
The issue of mobility, he noted, has been a constraint to the DOL and that is why they supported by providing this vehicle and the rest are just working tools to facilitate a friendly working environment for the ministry. Therefore, he expressed appreciation for the work of the Ministry and assured that the partnership will continue.
Mr. Nyallow Barrow, Commissioner of labour, thanked GIZ and assured that the donated vehicle and equipment will all be put into good use.
The donated items include; Samsung Smart TV 85 inch, Logitech Video Teleconferencing Camera with Speaker, Stabilizer 2000W, APS UPS 650VA, Toyota Land Cruiser 79 Double Cabin Pickup, Computer laptops, Colour Printer Multifunctional All-in-One Laserjet Pro, Nikon Digital Camera.
