Gambiaj.com – (Farafenni, The Gambia) – President Adama Barrow has praised the growing role of Gambian enterprises in driving national industrialization as his “Meet the People Tour” continued with a visit to the Jah Oil Cement Factory and the near-complete Transgambia Bridge Company office complex in Bereto.

During his visit, President Barrow toured the Jah Oil Cement Factory, which is currently under construction and expected to produce up to 100,000 bags of cement per day once operational.

The factory, part of Jah Oil’s expanding industrial investments, aims to reduce The Gambia’s heavy reliance on cement imports while creating about 300 new jobs for Gambians.

“This is the kind of progress we want to see—Gambians leading the transformation of our industries,” President Barrow said, expressing satisfaction with the scale and ambition of the project.

Beyond cement production, the Jah Group also showcased its growing ventures in agribusiness, including industrial tractors for the upcoming dry season.

The company plans to expand into onion, potato, and maize production—alongside its ongoing rice cultivation—to boost local food production and contribute to animal feed supply chains.

Officials noted that these initiatives align with the government’s industrialization and import-substitution policies, which seek to promote domestic production and enhance food security.

Meanwhile, the President also inspected the nearly completed office complex of the newly established Transgambia Bridge Company Ltd., a special purpose vehicle jointly created by the Government of The Gambia and Africa50 to manage and maintain the Senegambia Bridge.

The creation of the company is expected to improve bridge operations, streamline logistics, and ensure the long-term sustainability of the vital regional transport corridor connecting The Gambia and Senegal.

President Barrow’s visits underscored his administration’s focus on expanding local industries, creating employment opportunities, and strengthening national infrastructure as part of his broader development agenda.