Gambiaj.com – (CAIRO, Egypt) – Egypt has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Gambia’s development, offering expertise and cooperation in energy, construction, infrastructure, and security, during a high-level meeting between the two countries’ foreign ministers.
Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty received his Gambian counterpart, Sering Modou Njie, on Wednesday to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral ties and advance shared interests at regional and international levels. Abdelatty congratulated Njie on his appointment and emphasized Egypt’s readiness to assist Gambia across multiple sectors.
Economic and Infrastructure Cooperation
Abdelatty highlighted opportunities for Egyptian companies to participate in Gambia’s development plans, particularly in tourism, housing, and infrastructure. He also underscored the need to expand trade and investment through the Egyptian-Gambian joint committee, leveraging opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The minister stressed the role of the private sector in supporting joint economic initiatives and called for deepening cooperation to increase the volume of bilateral trade and investment.
Health, Capacity Building, and Academic Ties
Egypt reaffirmed its commitment to health sector collaboration, including a project to build and equip an Egyptian-run hospital in Banjul staffed with Egyptian professionals.
Abdelatty also outlined Egypt’s support for training and capacity-building programs for Gambian officials, diplomats, and professionals. Initiatives include programs organized by the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development (EAPD), the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding (CCCPA), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Institute for Diplomatic Studies.
The meeting further addressed academic cooperation between the University of The Gambia and Al-Azhar University, with a focus on medicine and engineering, including training scholarships for faculty members.
Regional Coordination and Security
The two ministers discussed regional developments in Africa, particularly in the Sahel, and explored ways to promote stability, security, and development. Abdelatty detailed Egypt’s training programs and support for Sahel countries, aimed at enhancing regional security and stability.
The ministers concluded the meeting by agreeing to continue coordination and consultation at both bilateral and multilateral levels to advance mutual interests.
