Speaking after his meeting, Ambassador Crorkin said: “I am delighted to have presented my credentials to the vice president today. We had a very useful and informative meeting and I look forward to working closely with the Government of The Gambia in the coming years.
“We have many shared aims and goals. The British Embassy will work in harmony with our international partners, in particular the EU and the UN, to help The Gambia achieve these aspirations. The people-to-people ties between our two countries are already strong and continue to grow each year – we have about 70,000 visitors a year from the UK which means that UK tourists make up nearly 60% of all tourists visiting The Gambia. With tourism accounting for around 20% of The Gambia’s GDP and employing over 100,000 Gambians, British tourists are vital to the Gambian economy. A high percentage are repeat visitors which shows the real bond that exists between our two nations. A significant number of British Nationals have also chosen to make The Gambia their home.
“The Medical Research Council in The Gambia is a unique facility that carries out vital research which benefits people in many nations – not just The Gambia. This facility receives significant funding from the UK taxpayer (over £7 million a year) and provides employment for well over 1,000 locals – I am immensely proud of the UK’s association with the MRC and the contribution it is making every day in The Gambia and beyond.
“I am also delighted to have the chance to return to Africa where I have served in the past with great enjoyment and fond memories – from both DRC and Nigeria. The opportunity to serve in The Gambia was too good to miss and my desire is to ensure that my time here is mutually beneficial. My task is to take the relationship to the next level and I am looking forward to the challenges and the opportunities that will present.”
Along with Crorkin, the Japanese ambassador also presented his letters of credentials to the vice president.
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