By: Arret Jatta
The European Union and the Government of The Gambia have signed a Financing Agreement of 10 million euros for the Youth Empowerment Programme (YEP) and the tourism and creative industries.
The agreement was signed on Monday 23rd July at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Conference Center by H.E. Corrado Pampaloni, Ambassador of the European Union to The Gambia, and Hon. Seedy Keita, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs of The Gambia.
The project, it’s believed, will further the development goals of The Gambia, focusing on enhancing the competitiveness, inclusiveness, and sustainability of the tourism and creative sectors in the country.
The EU Ambassador remarked that the signingof the agreement must be a call to action for all parties involved.
“The success of YEP Tourism will require a regular and robust dialogue between the Government and all stakeholders involved notably the private sector. Also, it will be paramount to ensure that the program brings concrete benefits in terms of both direct and indirect employment, especially for the youth and women, while at the same time ensuring the environment is preserved,” he pointed out.
“The world should know Gambia’s superb climate, friendly people, tranquil beach resorts, diverse wildlife, rich culture, and historical sites make it an outstanding tourist destination. But also, let us make sure that tourism brings prosperity to all,” added H.E Pampaloni.
The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs,Seedy Keita, described the signing as another significant milestone in the EU-Gambia Partnership.
“As a dependable ally, the EU consistently supports the country’s transition process with impactful and relevant interventions,” he acknowledged.
Minister Keita also noted that supporting such interventions will help them combat the scourge of irregular migration.
“The Financing Agreement will focus on the country’s productive sectors that are critical to the Cambia’s development, including a new project called EUVEPTourism and Creative Industries,” he assured.