By Tabora Bojang
The European Union Ambassador to the Gambia Attila Lajos has disclosed that since the beginning of the year, the EU has now multiplied by seven its financial commitment to the country.
Lajos was speaking at the launch of a 3-year road rehabilitation project funded by the EU and implemented by UNOPS that will seek to rehabilitate and construct about 104 km of rural roads in the upper, north and central river regions of the Gambia.
“The EU is a global actor, and we want to have a global partnership with the Gambia. Since February several missions from the services in charge of trade, energy, internal affairs, fisheries, security sector reforms and others came here all in the efforts to keep the Gambia high on the radar of development and investment makers,” he said, adding that the motto of the EU is that Gambia has decided and the “European Union has decided to support it.”
The EU ambassador also informed that a donor round table conference is to take place early next year with the support of the EU which will accord the Gambia a unique occasion to attract more investment to finance the new national development plan of the new government 2018-21.
About the EU funded feeder road rehabilitation project Mr. Lajos said the project is a fresh testimony of their firm stance in partnering with the new Gambia to see people’s lives change, saying “change is what people legitimately request from the new Gambia” and “this is what has to be done.”
The permanent secretary ministry of works said the project is in line with the new government’s commitment in poverty reduction and transportation through food and nutrition security.
She said the poor condition of feeder roads limits ease to access by various communities and the project will enhance access to social facilities and markets in the target rural areas, improve management of road network and will also seek to address the issue of road maintenance and reduce overloading of trucks.
