Africa-Press – Gambia. The newly appointed ambassadors of Côte d’Ivoire and Japan on Wednesday presented their letters of credence to President Adama Barrow at the State House in Banjul, officially marking the start of their diplomatic missions to The Gambia.
Japan’s Ambassador, Akamatsu Takeshi, conveyed the goodwill of the Japanese Emperor and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation with The Gambia. He pledged to strengthen collaboration in areas such as human security, food security, digitalization, and grassroots initiatives.
According to a statement from the State House, Ambassador Takeshi also expressed Japan’s readiness to support the establishment of a Gambian embassy in Tokyo and the development of a foreign service academy in The Gambia.
“The opening of a Gambian embassy in Japan and the establishment of a foreign service academy in The Gambia are processes that the Japanese Government is keen to accompany,” the statehouse stated in its presser.
In welcoming the envoy, President Barrow commended Japan for its development initiatives in the country, citing the provision of potable water to more than 50,000 Gambians as a notable achievement. He said his government looks forward to further cooperation, particularly in agricultural mechanization, capacity building, equipment provision, and land rehabilitation.
Côte d’Ivoire’s Ambassador, Mamadou Haïdara, extended the warm greetings of President Alassane Ouattara and requested President Barrow’s prayers for continued peace in the sub-region. He announced that Côte d’Ivoire had agreed to an energy-sharing partnership with The Gambia, which he said would help consolidate the strong ties between the two nations.
President Barrow congratulated Ambassador Haïdara on his appointment and welcomed the partnership, emphasizing the critical role of reliable and affordable electricity in driving industrialization. He further encouraged the inclusion of Banjul on the routes of Air Côte d’Ivoire to enhance regional connectivity.
The Gambian leader also thanked President Ouattara for his support of The Gambia’s democratic transition and for his commitment to the ideals of ECOWAS.
A State House communiqué noted that the meetings with the ambassadors of Japan and Côte d’Ivoire reaffirmed The Gambia’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic relations while also highlighting new avenues for cooperation that could deliver tangible benefits for the Gambian people.
“The meeting between President Barrow and the ambassadors of Japan and Côte d’Ivoire demonstrates The Gambia’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic relations and cooperation with other countries. The discussions highlighted areas of mutual interest and potential collaboration, which could lead to benefits for the Gambian people,” the statehouse noted.
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