State House, Banjul, 23rd February 2021: President Adama Barrow this morning received the Letters of Credence of the Ambassadors of Cote d’Ivoire, General de Corps d’’ Armee Sekou Toure and Italy, H.E Giovanni Umberto De Vito, respectively.
Both diplomats extolled Gambia’s cordial relations with their various countries while expressing the commitment to strengthening the cooperation in the areas of education, business, food and security, economy, Tourism, and Tourism.
President Barrow said he was honoured to receive H.E. General Sekou Toure, the Ivorian Ambassador to the Gambia, to build on the historical ties between The Gambia and Cote d’Ivoire. He conveyed his congratulations to the Ivorian President, H.E Alassane Ouattara for his re-election and commended the people for maintaining stability in the state of West Africa under his leadership, thus demonstrating the trust that Ivoirians have in him.
In another diplomatic engagement, President Barrow received the Italian Ambassador to The Gambia, H.E Giovanni Umberto De Vito. He commended the current good ties and appreciated the support provided to the Gambia by the Republic of Italy through the European Union and at the bilateral level.
President Barrow acknowledged the management of illegal migration by Italy by promoting and legally integrating Gambian migrants into Italian society. He told the Ambassador of the importance of the remittances migrants contribute back to The Gambia to help sustain families. The President urged Ambassador De Vito to invite Italian companies to invest in the construction industry.
On global issues, the President urged the G20 to cancel developed countries’ debts to allow countries such as The Gambia to spend 60% of their income in developing their infrastructure to tackle poverty and improve the working conditions of workers.
Meanwhile, on the Gambia’s 56th Independence Anniversary celebration, letters of congratulations continue to be received at the State House in Banjul. The latest received by His Excellency, President Adama Barrow, came from their Excellencies, President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Republic of Turkey.
The messages expressed congratulations and best wishes for the health and well-being of President Adama Barrow and the people of the Republic of The Gambia. The leaders have renewed their commitment to improving the current cordial bilateral ties by continuing to work together in different areas of mutual interest.
In memory of the political struggle of great Gambian men and women who struggled for the achievement of self-rule from Britain, The Gambia celebrates 18 February annually.
