Iran and Gambia Vow Closer Cooperation

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday vowed closer cooperation with Gambia at the end of a 24-hour visit to the west African nation and stressed the country's identical views on world issues.

"We will continue to further our cooperation in all areas for the benefit of the two countries," he told a press conference, stressing security, agriculture and education.

The leaders also discussed the issue of stability and peace as a precondition for development.

"The Gambia and Iran are two countries with identical views," Ahmadinejad said.
According to a statement, the Iranian president and his Gambian counterpart Yahya Jammeh have undertaken "to cooperate in the fight against all forms of threat to peace, security and progress in the interest of mankind."
Jammeh lauded the comprehensive relationship between Banjul and Tehran.

"There is no limit to our relationship. It is a very open and brotherly relationship and one that is here to stay," Jammeh said.He added that with the global financial crisis countries need to prioritise their bilateral relationships.

From Banjul, the Iranian leader is to continue on to Brazil, Bolivia,
Venezuela and Senegal.Prior to leaving Tehran, he said the countries he would visit on his five-day trip "have the ability to restore a new world order".

Gambian Economy to Grow Faster Than Forecast in 2009, IMF Says

The Gambian economy will expand this year at a faster pace than previously forecast, aided by strong growth in agriculture, the International Monetary Fund said in a report dated Nov. 5.
Gross domestic product will increase about 4.5 percent to 5 percent in 2009, up from an earlier estimate of about 3.5 percent, according to a statement issued after IMF officials visited the Africa nation from Oct. 23 to Nov. 5. Real GDP growth is projected “to rise slightly” in 2010, based on a partial recovery in tourism and remittances, the IMF also said in the report e-mailed to Bloomberg News.

“Given the uncertainty of weather conditions for agriculture and prevailing weakness in some countries with economic linkages to The Gambia, there are still downside risks to the outlook for 2010,” the fund said.

“The Gambian government still faces a heavy debt burden,” the IMF said, estimating interest on government debt to consume almost 20 percent of government revenue in 2009.

Gambia Now

Gambia Tourist Authority Woos German Tourism

The Gambian Tourism Authority (GTA), in partnership with Gambian Hotel Association and Travel Association of The Gambia, Tuesday briefed German journalists and tour operators on the Gambian tourist potentials.

Prior to the briefing, the visitors had undertaken a nine-day tour of the Gambian tourist centres, including the exotic eco-camps, trendy resorts along the coast line and the culture of the Gambian people.

The journalists are drawn from reputable media organisations in Germany.

Addressing the visitors, the Acting Director General of GTA, Fatou Beyai Raji, said that the Gambian tourism fraternity had worked tirelessly to put together a programme that specifically addressed the aspirations of the visitors.

'The German market is of great significance to us and we want to leave no stone unturned to make an impact in the German market,' she declared.

The Director of Marketing, Lamin Saho, told the visitors that the GTA was bent on redoubling its efforts in improving the tourism sector.

This will include the building of more eco-tourism centres as part of the GTA master plan, in order to benefit not only the tourism sector but also the people.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Tourism and Travel Association of The Gambia, Charbeika Hobeika, said his association was totally committed to improving standards and safety to the highest level.

The association, he said, hopes to attract what he called 'high class tourists' with more spending power, while improving services.

Gambia Now

Smiling Coast Rythm-Hard Breaker Gambia Music

I have been asked to big up the hardbreaker

Gambian Law: Court Cases in The Gambia

Gambian Law: Court Cases in The Gambia

Gambian Law: International Tax Advice

Gambian Law: International Tax Advice

Gambian Law: Disputes with Property Developers & Builders

Gambian Law: Disputes with Property Developers & Builders

UK Press on the Gambia Gets it all Wrong

A recent article I read on the Gambia commented on the ruin that has been made of the short coastline by unplanned building. I fly out in 2 weeks and cannot wait to see how much building work must have been done since May 09 to ruin the beaches and coastline I know in the Gambia!

Following a very quiet season in 2008-2009 its extraordinary to think that so much cash must have flooded in, but if the coastline is now full of ugly high rises, it will have been a great boost to the Gambian economy during the summer season.